Tomorrow is International Women’s Day (IWD), a global celebration of women and their social, economic, cultural and political achievements. This year’s theme is Accelerate Action, calling on all of us to act now to make meaningful steps forward in our efforts toward gender equity.
Watch today’s IWD Celebration
This morning Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Councillor Ariel Troster, Council Liaison for Women, Gender Equity and 2SLGBTQ+ Affairs, hosted the annual International Women’s Day celebration at City Hall. The event featured a familiar face to the City, guest speaker Dr. Vera Etches, newly appointed President and CEO, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario—the first woman to serve in this role. Dr. Etches reflected on her career journey in the field of medicine, including her time as Medical Officer of Health for Ottawa Public Health during the global pandemic, where she earned a reputation for being a calm, steady and determined leader in the community.
Please take a moment to watch the conversation, which will be posted online later today at rogerstv.com/womensday2025.
The City’s commitment
The City’s is committed to women and gender equity and through the implementation of the Women and Gender Equity Strategy (WGES), which ensures the integration of a women and gender equity lens into all City programs, services, strategies and plans. The WGES includes targets related to affordable housing, childcare and representation of women and gender-diverse people in the workforce. And, through the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, the City is working with community partners to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.
IWD is a reminder for us all to continue building on the progress we’ve made and come together as Team Ottawa with a commitment to create both a city and a future that is more inclusive and equitable for everyone.
