City of Ottawa hosts forum celebrating International Woman’s Day

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Dr. Vera Etches speak at an event to mark International Women’s Day. (Kimberley Johnson/ CTV News Ottawa)

Saturday marks International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women and a call to action to push for further equality.

This year’s theme is “accelerate action,” which focuses on the need to take swift action to combat gender inequality.

On Friday, ahead of the day, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe hosted an event to mark it, speaking with Dr. Vera Etches at City Hall.

Before she became the leading voice in the Ottawa medical community and oversaw the city’s response to the pandemic, she says it was women who inspired her to go into the world of public health.

She says she was a medical student, working in Malawi, Africa, and saw the work of nurses who were treating AIDS patients.

“Who really were really, so embedded in the community. Tackling big problems,” she said. “I thought these are the people I want to work with.”

In an interview with CTV News Ottawa, Etches says forums like this provide a chance to celebrate one another while moving forward.

“I think it’s important to pay attention to what we can do, and where we are making progress and to keep going,” she added. “To make space for women to have all the opportunities they deserve.”

Councillor Ariel Troster says after seeing pushback against 2SLGBTQ+ rights, as well as the end of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the U.S. by President Donald Trump, this year holds significance.

“To reaffirm, as a representative of the city, that we’re still committed to gender equity, we’re still committed to anti-racism,” she said. “That having spaces like this where we can gather together is really, really important.”

The World Economic Forum says it will take until the year 2158 to reach full gender parity.

Sutcliffe says he was shocked by the number.

“That’s five generations, or 133 years from now. That’s way too long,” Sutcliffe said.

He says the push continues both inside and outside city hall.

“We need to move faster,” he said. “We need to move more proactively to eliminate barriers and take proactive steps to make an environment where women can truly succeed.”