Press Releases

Press Release: Toronto’s 2023 Annual International Women’s Day is Back in the Streets

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Back in-person for the first time since 2020, Toronto’s International Women’s Day rally and march bring thousands of people to the streets of Toronto.

“This year our movement is back in the streets and our voices will be louder than ever,” said rally Co-Chair Jenny Ahn.

This year’s rally theme is “Women, Life, Freedom” to show global solidarity with Iranian and Kurdish women’s struggles for their fundamental rights.

The annual rally and march highlight both local and global issues impacting women, non-binary, and gender-diverse people, including the gendered impact of the privatization of health care, the housing crisis and climate change.

Starting at 11:00 a.m., Eastern, a dynamic rally will feature cultural performances and a powerful line-up of speakers including:

  • Dr. Catherine Brooks, Anishnawbe Kwe Elder
  • Chloe Tse, Ontario Health Coalition
  • Gloria Turney, Personal Support Worker, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
  • Laura Walton, President of Ontario School Board Council of Unions
  • Leny Rose, President of Migrante Ontario
  • Minoo Derashan, Iranian activist
  • Ria Renne, ACORN, housing activist
  • Yolanda McLean Secretary Treasurer of CUPE Ontario and President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU)

“We know our struggles are all connected – we are speaking out against the Ford government’s attempts to privatize health care and destroy our Greenbelt. We are standing in solidarity with Kurdish and Iranian women and with women and gender-diverse folks around the world who are standing up for their rights,” said rally Co-Chair Alisha Alam.

Organized by a diverse coalition of community groups, students and trade unions, and sponsored by Women Working with Immigrant Women, the event normally brings together thousands of women, men, non-binary, and gender-diverse people to march for equality and justice.

Toronto is the only city in North America to have an annual IWD rally every year since 1978.

When: Saturday, March 4, 2023, 11 a.m. rally, 1 p.m. march (Eastern)
Where: OISE/University of Toronto, 252 Bloor St. W. The march travels east along Bloor St. W., and south on Yonge St. to Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

For more information on the International Women’s Day 2023 event visit iwdtoronto.ca.

For media comments or to connect with one of our rally speakers, contact:
Carolyn Ferns, 647-218-1275, carolyn@childcareontario.org

Press Release: Saturday, March 5, 2022: Toronto’s Annual International Women’s Day Rally

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–With a theme of “People and Planet Over Profit: Revolutionary Love for All,” Toronto’s IWD rally will be a virtual event, screened on Facebook and YouTube.

Organized by a coalition of community groups, students, and labour, and sponsored by Women Working with Immigrant Women, the event brings together thousands of women and men to march for equality and justice. Our first-ever virtual rally last year had thousands of views from across Canada.

Date: ​​Saturday, March 5, 2022

To watch, visit:
International Women’s Day Toronto’s website: http://www.iwdtoronto.ca
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2022iwdtoronto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IWDToronto

For media comments or to connect with one of our speakers:
Jenny Ahn, 416-271-3489
Anna Liu, 416-839-5763

Press Release: Toronto’s Annual 2021 IWD Rally: Rising Above the Pandemic
Saturday March 6, 1pm, live online at: www.facebook.com/IWDToronto
(no facebook account required) or watch later

TORONTO/CNW/ – Toronto’s International Women’s Day rally and march on Saturday March 6 will combine the stories of women with the energy and passion of our annual march and rally.

Uniting under the banner “Rising Above the Pandemic” our live-hosted rally will feature IWD speakers on the key issues facing women in the pandemic – as workers, as older women, as First Nations women, and as racialized women.

Our rally highlights the challenges of inadequate supports for long term care, First Nations self-determination, working conditions for child care staff and the crisis of evictions as a result of gentrification and loss of incomes.

We will feature activists from Black Lives Matter as well as migrant justice movements and members of the Kurdish community working to educate and inform us all on human rights issues back home and around the world.

Jess Thomas, an Early Childhood Educator, was laid off because of the pandemic, wondering how they was going to pay their bills. As the government allowed non-qualified staff to work and the employer hired supply staff, Jess worked to get themselves and their co-workers recalled to work.

“We just want to be able to do our jobs, have decent work, decent pay and benefits that allow us not to be burnt out. Our collective strength will win. We can lift each other up”, said Jess.
Valerie Steele from the Black Lives Matter said: “Please don’t tell me that defunding the policy will never happen – every year we as citizens watch as government defunds education and defunds health care”.

Patricia Edwards from ACORN spoke about the need to stop renovictions and evictions. “We need affordable housing for women and families – we need this now!”

The International Women’s Day March is one of Toronto’s most diverse events. Organized by a coalition of community groups, students, and trade unions, and sponsored by Women Working with Immigrant Women, the event normally brings together thousands of women, men, non-binary, and gender-diverse people to march for equality and justice. This year we expect an even larger group to join from local and international locations.

For more information on the International Women’s Day 2021 event visit http://www.iwdtoronto.ca. Toronto is the only city in North America with an annual IWD March every year since 1978.

For further information: For media inquiries please contact: Jenny Ahn, 416-271-3489 or Andrea Calver 416-434-8031