International Women’s Day on March 8 is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world. For more than a century, this day has also served as an important reminder that progress toward gender equality requires ongoing commitment and collective action.
This year’s theme, Give to Gain, reminds us that when we support and invest in one another, we create stronger communities and open doors for future generations. We are fortunate to have extraordinary women across our university community including leaders, faculty, staff, students and alumni who are making meaningful contributions in their fields and in the communities we serve. In recognition of International Women’s Day, several of our women leaders have shared reflections on women in leadership in a feature on the VIU Blog.
I would also like to thank the VIU Faculty Association’s Women’s and Gender Equity Committee and the VIU Students’ Union for organizing this year’s International Women’s Day event at our Nanaimo campus on March 9. Events like this bring our community together to learn, reflect and celebrate.
Our commitment to equity and inclusion is reflected in the opportunities we create for students. Today, more than half of VIU’s students identify as women, and many are pursuing their educational goals with the support of scholarships, awards and bursaries made possible through the generosity of our donors and partners.
International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate these achievements and to reaffirm our shared responsibility to continue advancing gender parity across our university and the communities we serve.
Happy International Women’s Day.
Warm regards,
Dennis Johnson, PhD
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor
Vancouver Island University
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