International Women’s Day

DIVERSEcity X Minerva Women’s Leadership Forum

To celebrate International Women’s Day, DIVERSEcity is partnering with Minerva to host our second annual Women’s Leadership Forum

What does it mean to be a women leader today? What are the challenges and opportunities we face in our families, communities and workplaces? And how can we uplift and learn from each other, both personally and professionally, to advance our careers and lives?

DIVERSEcity and Minerva are inviting women, both emerging and established, immigrant and Canadian-born, to come together to uplift and learn from one another at our Women’s Leadership Forum on International Women’s Day, Friday,  March 8, 2024, 10 am – 2 pm, at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster (777 Columbia Street), near New Westminster Skytrain Station.

Master of Ceremonies: Ria Renouf

Ria Renouf first got her start at Global News 980/CKNW filing holiday stories as an intern. By early 2014, she was working as a fill-in reporter and was officially offered a job as a morning show anchor, followed by the assignment editor chair.  She then anchored CityNews Vancouver’s popular afternoon radio drive show for nearly three years. By 2021, she was reporting for CityNews Vancouver’s TV side, and went on to launch and manage digital publication New West Anchor in May of 2022. Having racked up a spate of awards, including an Edward R. Murrow, Ria is today paving a new road for herself as a new media marketing specialist.

Event highlights include:

Welcome by Chief Rhonda Larrabee, Qayqayt First Nation


Keynote Welcome by Sophie Lui of Global BC

Sophie Lui is the Anchor of Global News at 5 and Co-Anchor of Global News Hour at 6. She previously co-hosted Global News Morning and Global Weekend Mornings. Born and raised in the Lower Mainland, Sophie has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Leo Award for Best Host for her travel program Get Lost and a 2023 Canadian Screen Award, along with her colleagues, for Best Local Newscast for Global BC News Hour at 6. She also received the 2023 recipient of the Shelley Fralic Award from the Jack Webster Foundation.  In addition to journalism, Sophie is active in the community, serving on the board of the BGC South Coast BC and on the cabinet of BC Cancer Foundation’s Beyond Belief Campaign.


A DIVERSEtalks panel discussion with local women leaders and open Q & A period, moderated by Neelam Sahota, CEO, DIVERSEcity, and Tina Strehlke, CEO, Minerva BC. Speakers include:

  • Attorney General of BC Niki Sharma
  • Trish Mandewo, Founder Synergy Executive and Boards Consulting Group, Coquitlam City Councillor
  • Matilda Williams-Obiajunwa, Founder, Sisters in Canada Wellness Society
  • and more …

Writing in Flow: a two-part activity using gentle stretching and Yogic breathing to create a relaxed state from which to do some creative, reflective writing around your journey (part 1) and then share in small networking groups (part 2). Facilitated by Daniela Cohen.


BollyFusion dance presentation and
interactive dance activity


Launch of DIVERSEcity’s Survivor Guide website and women’s storytelling presentation

Plus, networking, exhibition tables, hosted refreshments, lunch and an exciting giveaway from Webnames.ca for every attendee.

The event is free but tickets are limited due to space. Registration is required.  Register for free tickets here.

Register to attend our Women's Leadership Forum

Tickets are free but registration is required due to limited capacity.

Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities

Want to be involved as a sponsor or exhibitor? Email marketing@dcrs.ca or download our sponsorship and information package here.

In addition to full tables set aside for sponsors, we are offering free half- tables for women’s focused organizations. Interested in taking part in this dynamic event and sharing information about your services for women? Exhibition table opportunities are now full.


2024 funding by:

 

 

 

With sponsorship from:

Media Sponsor:


International Women’s Day Donation

Uplifting women and women’s-focused organizations

Since 2016, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society has been honouring International Women’s Day by recognizing women’s-focused organizations with a donation to support their work.

2023 donation announcement

For 2023, DIVERSEcity has chosen to donate a bursary (at a value of $1,500) to Minerva’s Emerging Leaders Program to one of the attendees at the DIVERSEcity x Minerva Women’s Leadership Forum. It’s a 10-week part-time development program for new managers and early career leaders that improves participants’ leadership abilities as well as their confidence to manage people and teams, all while growing their professional networks and power base.

The recipient of the bursary will be announced soon.

In 2022, DIVERSEcity presented a donation of $1,000 to:

  • Pacific Association of First Nations Women, an association that envisions a matriarchal community where all Indigenous women in BC are safe and respected with a sense of belonging and connection to cultural traditions.

The donation wasco-sponsored (value $500) by Pacific Community Resources Society.

In previous years, we have donated $500 to: 

2022 donation co-sponsored by: