CALGARY, March 8, 2017 – Today, on International Women’s Day, YW Calgary is proud to host an evening reception to honour women of all ages and speak out against barriers women continue to face at its 5th annual YW CELEBRATE event.

More than 250 women and men will gather tonight at The Bow in downtown Calgary to recognize and honour the achievements of women in our community and press for progress on supporting women to find suitable employment opportunities, equal pay for work of equal value and removing barriers for women working to break the glass ceiling.

“YW cannot and will not remain silent. We continue to speak up and out against systemic issues facing women each and every day.” says Sue Tomney, CEO YW Calgary. “We need to continue to support women to speak out in a way that is supportive and respectful to help remove barriers preventing women from succeeding and creating a brighter future for themselves and other women and girls.”

With Calgary ranked among the worst cities to be a women in Canada and the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report telling gender parity is more than 200 years away us if we continue on our current path, there has never been a more critical time to speak. Now is the time to press for progress in our community to help create an equitable future for generations to come.

Tonight YW CELEBRATE guests will hear from powerful female voices from Encana Corporation, TransCanada, a YW SHE WHO DARES honouree and Sue Tomney. Additionally, the Calgary Tower and Reconciliation (Langevin) Bridge will shine purple in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Funds raised from the event will enable YW Calgary to provide programs and services that support women to secure and maintain sustainable employment through the YW Women’s Employment Resource Centre.

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About YW Calgary:

YW Calgary is the largest and longest serving women’s organization in Calgary. For more than 107 years, we have focused on enhancing women’s safety and well-being while advocating for equity. In 2017, YW Calgary supported more than 5,300 Calgary women and their families. Together with our donors, government and other social agencies, we provide crisis shelter, transitional and supported housing, counselling, parenting supports, childcare, language and employment programs that help move women from crisis to stability.

Women-centred. Brighter-future focused.

ywcalgary.ca

For information please contact:

Carla Link

Manager, Marketing & Communications

YW Calgary

Cell: 587.228.8663 l Email: clink@ywcalgary.ca