From cupcakes to trivia, it was a celebration at Âé¶čAVâs Okanagan College campus and everyone was invited to participate â even though the event was to mark the movement for womenâs rights.
The student union hosted the International Womenâs Day event next to the library, challenging those in attendance to trivia about female movers and shakers.
Questions such as: âMargaret Thatcher was the first female Prime Minister of what Country?â Or âin 2014, Emma Watson became the goodwill ambassador for which organization?â
Those with a correct answer would score a t-shirt.
Organizer Melissa Sawchuk says itâs important to hold an event for International Womenâs Day because not everyone recognizes or knows about the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
âWe have a lot of international students that come from different countries and itâs great to show them that all the women around the world, no matter where we come from, can do amazing things,â explained Sawchuk.
Those in attendance agreed it was important to have events that celebrate women and diversity on campus, although many thought there could be more resources for women at the college.
âIt gets people to come out of their shell and talk about womenâs issues and things,â said one woman of the event.
Sawchuk says there are a lot of resources on campus for women, such as counselling services and student union resources.
âWe have a really good rapport between women (on campus) and are very supportive with the students,â she said.
Another student said she was happy to be a part of the Women in Trades program, which is geared towards getting females into the trades industry.
While another woman claims there are more female focused resources and events happening on campus, there is still room for improvement.
Dozens of students and professors passed through the event on March 8, a day to recognize womenâs achievements and acknowledge the challenges they face in the journey for gender equality.
