Men and women are invited to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Creston and Public Library on March 2 from 1-3:30 p.m.
This is the third year that the New Democratic Party has organized Women’s Day in Creston. Once again, everyone is welcome to participate in honouring this important day. There is no admission charge. The following is a brief capsule on this year’s presenters:
Gail Kitt will read a 1912 Creston Review article that features Dorothy Davis (Political Equality League) speaking on behalf of women seeking the right to vote. Kitt is well known for her comic and dramatic abilities. Her audience is guaranteed a bit of fun in the midst of serious considerations.
Linda Breault’s photo journal will provide a silent background. Breault has witnessed women survive patriarchal oppression in excess of 14 countries and maintains, “The power to lift up is stronger than all that holds us down.”
The expert singing of the all female choir, Key of She, will perform under the direction of Anita Stushnoff.
Kuya Minogue, resident teacher at Creston’s ZenWords Zen Centre, will give a talk entitled “Mindfulness and Health”. Minogue’s 59th column on the Lojong slogans was published last week in the Creston Valley Advance.
Curator of the Creston Museum, Tammy Hardwick, plans a display of women breaking new ground and making history in our valley.
We love to eat. For women this is especially enjoyable if someone else has prepared the food! Tasty treats will be provided by The Creston GoGo Grannies. These hard working grannies fund raise so that they can send money to help their counterparts in Africa, many of whom are struggling to raise grandchildren whose parents have been devastated by AIDS.
Lendina Bambrick is well informed regarding local and systemic barriers to real equality for women. She will provide information on availability of local services in cases of abuse and violence. Bambrick is the executive director of the non-profit Kootenai Community Centre Society.
Men and boys of various nationalities have demonstrated against gender-based violence during the White Ribbon Campaign. Recently young men in India were shown on TV in a lying down protest.
The idea of International Women’s Day was tabled in Germany by Clara Zetkin when she was leader of the women’s office in the Social Democratic Party. It was first observed in U.S.A. in 1909 and acquired international status when recognized by the United Nations in 1975.
—BY JULIE EWASHEN