Mount Allison University will mark International Women’s Day with more than a week of events and initiatives on campus (Feb. 28-March 8, 2019).

“Mount Allison has a long history of strong women in education,” says Mount Allison’s SHARE Advisor Melody Petlock, who is helping to organize many of the initiatives. “We are excited to recognize some of these Allisonians, past and present, as we commemorate International Women’s Day with a week of activities and events for the entire community.”

Status of Women Canada’s 2019 theme for International Women’s Day is #InnovateForChange with a focus on celebrating Women in STEM.

“#InnovateForChange is a powerful theme on many levels,” says Mount Allison President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau. “We are proud of the many Mount Allison graduates who have been true innovators — opening doors for women in fields where women had not traditionally been accepted or welcomed. And we are proud of the many Allisonians — students, faculty, staff, and alumnae — who continue to push boundaries; who make productive, creative, and sometimes revolutionary contributions to our society; and who change the way we view the world.”

At Mount Allison, the annual production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues was staged Feb. 28-March 2. Proceeds from the production were donated to the South Eastern Sexual Assault Centre (SESAC) and the Spotlight Donation.

Author and journalist Lezlie Lowe will be on campus for a reading and discussion of her new book, No Place to Go: How Public Toilets Fail Our Private Needs (Coach House Books, 2018) on Friday, March 8 — International Women’s Day — at 4 p.m. in the Owens Art Gallery.

The reading, organized by the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, will be followed by a discussion and Q&A, as well as a free reception with light refreshments. Tidewater Books will have copies of the book for purchase. Everyone is welcome.

Other events include:

• CUPE 3433 (MASA) Lunch and Learn: Sexual Violence Prevention and Response, WMSC 124 (Wednesday, March 6, 12 p.m.)

• Survivor Support Group, Wednesday, March 6, 5:30 p.m. Contact SHARE@mta.ca

• Student-led Sexual Violence Safety Forum, Avard-Dixon Building, G12 (Thursday, March 7, 6 p.m.)

• Celebration IWD Lunch from 12-2 p.m. at Jennings Dining Hall (Lunch is $5 + tax for all. Let organizers know you are coming at PACWGI@mta.ca and you might get drawn for a free lunch!)

The Marie Hammond–Callaghan Women’s History Prize will also be awarded on March 11 in honour of Marie Hammond–Callaghan (’85,’86), who was the cornerstone of the women’s and gender studies program at Mount Allison for many years. She served as the only full-time faculty member in the program, developed and taught a number of the core courses, and was responsible for organizing many speakers and events on campus, especially for International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day activities are organized by several groups and departments on campus, including the SHARE office (Sexual Violence Response and Education), the Pan-University Committee on Women’s and Gender Issues, the Mount Allison Students Union, as well as the department of Women’s and Gender Studies.