Friendship Centre International Women's Day event returns after successful first year

Friday, March 8 event to feature Indigenous keynote speaker and performances by local actors

The Friendship Centre will once again host its popular International Women’s Day event on Friday, March 8 at 1:00 p.m. The event will feature three guest speakers, with a social hour and refreshments to follow.

Keynote speaker Patsy Ann Day will share about her experience as an Indigenous woman who was taken from her home at six years old as part of the "60's Scoop". Day’s mother lost her Native status and was forced by government assimilation policies to give up her children. Non-native families were paid to foster and then adopt Native children. Day was brought to St. Marys at age 15, when her adoptive mother married a local cement plant worker in 1966.

Two local actors will also perform at the event. Carol Robinson Todd will step into the shoes of Agnes McPhail, Canada’s first female parliamentarian. Denise Fergusson will impersonate Nellie McClung, who was instrumental in getting the vote for women in Canada.

Admission will be by donation. Those wishing to attend should call 519-284-3272 to pre-register.

Additional Information

For details about International Women’s Day as a world-wide event, visit www.internationalwomensday.com.

- 30 -

Contact

Stacey Wheal | Corporate Communications Specialist
519-284-2340, ext. 429 | swheal@town.stmarys.on.ca