On March 8, the Anvil Centre in New Westminster came to life with dialogue and connection as about 300 women and allies gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day at the DIVERSEcity X Minerva Women’s Leadership Forum.
This event, hosted in partnership with Surrey Local Immigration Partnership, not only honoured the monumental strides women have made across various sectors, but also acknowledged the important conversations and actionable steps needed to “Be the Leader of Your Life.”
Emceed by broadcaster, writer and communicator Ria Renouf, the morning was full of rich conversation, beginning with a keynote from Global News anchor Sophie Lui.
Led by DIVERSEcity CEO Neelam Sahota and Minerva BC CEO Tina Strehlke, the DIVERSEtalks panel was robust with stories and dialogue from the Honourable Niki Sharma, Attorney General of BC; Trish Mandewo, Founder, Synergy Executive and Boards Consulting Group, Coquitlam City Councillor; Matilda Williams-Obiajunwa, Founder, Sisters in Canada Wellness Society and Chief Rhonda Larrabee of Qayqayt First Nation.
Meaningful conversations were had by women from all walks of life on how to empower one another, lean in, be bold and reach higher. Attendees participated in the informative Q&A with the panel, networked over lunch, engaged with exhibitors, took part in a centering mindfulness and yoga session with Daniela Cohen and celebrated through a dance-a-long with Bollyfusion.
We want to extend a special thank you to the extraordinary women from DIVERSEcity’s Survivor-Centered Systems of Care Project who bravely shared their stories.
Thank you to our funders and sponsors for making this event possible, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Women and Gender Equality Canada, Vancity, BC Housing, FortisBC, YWCA, Dupuis Langen Group, Surrey Digital Printing, media sponsor La Source Newspaper and giveaway sponsor Webnames.ca.