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The free community event will include a drag show with Chimaera, Kamilla and Kween Karamelle, poetry by Katrina Stephany, an Afro-tribal dance workshop and performance with Binty Koroma as well as kids’ activities and a mini-self-care workshop with Rebecca Skelhorn. There will also be hot drinks and snacks.

Before the event, folks are meeting up at Veterans Memorial Bridge by the Market Parkade for a traditional “Women on the Bridge” rally at 10:45 a.m. Participants will make the short walk back to 10C. Folks can bring signs, wear pink or purple to show support, and be ready to get loud.

These rallies are a big part of International Women’s Day events, launched by Women for Women International in 2010. Their “Join Me on the Bridge” campaign began when women in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo joined together for peace and hope for the future on the bridge connecting their two countries, said the GWWIC.

Sly Castaldi, executive director of GWWIC, said that International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that the fight for gender equality is far from over.

“It is a day to celebrate the resilience, leadership, and achievements of women while recognizing the work still needed to end gender-based violence, close wage gaps, and ensure equal opportunities for all. True progress happens when we move beyond words to action - when we listen, advocate, and dismantle barriers so that every woman and girl can thrive.”

For information about GWWIC and their events, visit . If you need support, you can call their 24-hour crisis line at 519-836-5710 or 1-800-265-7233.