International Women's Day Celebrated
Across the Country

Montreal, March 8, 2023

On the occasion of International Women's Day across Canada and Quebec women organized rallies, marches and gatherings of all kinds to advance their struggle for their rights and the rights of all.

Montreal

More than 250 women and girls marched through the streets of Montreal on March 8, representing women’s and social organizations. At the offices of the Premier, the federal government and the U.S. Consulate they expressed their determination to resist attacks on their rights and their solidarity with the fighting women of the world.

Toronto

The Toronto International Women's Day Committee together with Women Working with Immigrant Women organized a lively meeting in Toronto on March 4. Education and health care workers, migrant workers and youth spoke about their work and their demands. The rally ended with spirited drumming by the Eagle Women Singers and a skit by the South Asian Women’s Rights Organization. After the meeting hundreds marched through the downtown streets to Toronto Metropolitan University.

Scarborough

On March 19, the South Asian Women's Rights Organization (SAWRO) organized an International Women's Day forum featuring songs, skits, and panel and roundtable discussions. The topics for discussion covered issues that have been identified as important through SAWRO's work, from housing, childcare and health care to rights in the workplace and how to make advances in fighting for needed changes in those areas.

Windsor

On March 8 a spirited rally was held at the picket line of Windsor Salt workers in support of their fight for the right to bargain their working conditions and defend their jobs and safety against contracting out. Participants denounced the role of a U.S. union-busting law firm to break the workers' resistance.

Winnipeg

In Winnipeg a healing walk was organized by the Clan Mothers healing village to celebrate and honour all women on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Edmonton

Women for Rights and Empowerment (W4RE) organized a lively and militant march on March 5 which followed a celebration that included Indigenous youth performing the Grandmother song, Filipino youth leading the One Million Women Rising dance, and a dance honouring the struggle of the Peruvian women and people.

On March 8, Women for Rights and Empowerment held a very successful dinner and discussion, with around 135 women and their families participating. Women from many sectors of the economy took part, among them a large contingent of migrant workers; along with Indigenous women leading the fight for justice for murdered and missing women, Palestinian women leading the fight for the right to be, women active for climate justice and water is life, those in advocacy for incarcerated women, and others and spoke about their concerns and the fights they are waging, including a representative of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist). What stood out from the discussion was that successes are achieved when we fight together, and the strong sense of responsibility for each other, and the need to continue the discussion throughout the year.