Yesterday I attended an event to celebrate International Women’s Day hosted by the Women’s Centre of York Region, which offers programs and services to women from all walks of life at little or no cost.
We’re so proud of the branding work we did for the centre last year. Not only was the work itself creatively rewarding but the whole process was truly a humbling experience. Everyone involved—from the Board, Executive Director, and support staff—are so incredibly dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the clients they serve. It became very clear that, for them, it’s not a job but a labour of love. And it became so as well for everyone here at DNA.

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At yesterday’s event, WCYR welcomed three powerful women to share their inspiring and completely different stories.

Marina with WCYR’s Board Chair, Judith and friends.

Marina Nemat is the author of two bestsellers, Prisoner of Tehran and After Tehran, memoirs detailing her arrest and torture in Tehran’s Evin Prison and her eventual move to Canada. Both books are testaments to the power of love in the face of evil and injustice.
I was so moved when I read her first book that it stayed with me for weeks. I wanted to hear more about how she’d overcome such horrendous experiences, suffering different forms of torture on a daily basis. How did that not extinguish her spirit? How did she find the courage to move on? I wondered, how do you even begin to put it behind you? I watched countless hours of interviews and speeches on YouTube. I wished I could ask her how she could even begin to forgive such atrocities. Yesterday, I finally had my chance and I’m even more in awe of Marina and so deeply honoured to have shared a moment with her.
Helen Dantas is a testament to the incredible impact WCYR has on their clients’ lives. Helen escaped an abusive relationship and she and her two children turned to the centre for support. Today, she’s an author and speaker who shares her story in the hopes of inspiring other women in her situation to find the strength to leave their abusers and, most of all, to know that they’re not alone.
Amber Bowman is a Central York firefighter and 16-time Fire Combat Challenge World Champion. She was the first woman challenger to break the two-minute barrier and is the most victorious competitor in the event’s history. After winning her first championship, Amber suffered a tragic accident and became completely incapacitated. She moved into her parents’ house for care, where she lived on a mattress for months until she could get back to her routine again. She shared how she overcame these challenges and went on to win many more championships. Today, she continues to inspire everyone she comes in contact with and spends a considerable amount of time mentoring young women.
I was deeply moved by these women’s stories and amazed by the human soul’s incredible capacity to love and forgive. May we all find even an ounce of their strength within ourselves. I’m so grateful to my friend Sandra at the WCYR for today’s experience. Thank you!
And to all of you and the women who inspire you, Happy International Women’s Day! In honour of these women, consider taking the #PledgeforParity, which is this year’s IWD theme. In 2014, the World Economic Forum predicted that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity. Only one year later, in 2015, they estimated that a slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn’t close until 2133.
You can help by taking the pledge and sharing!
PLUS! Congratulations to the winner of our Valentine’s Day blog: Jenine Coles!