P.E.I.’s only women’s business association with an Islandwide mandate will be hosting a unique online event on March 8 to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021.
Everyone is welcome to attend the online event via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon, free of charge; however, pre-registration is necessary through the association’s website.
Choosing to Challenge will feature Senator Diane Griffin and Sweta Daboo, two prominent P.E.I. figures who have pursued careers in groundbreaking public service, each one in a different stage of her professional journey.
Griffin, chair of the standing Senate committee on agriculture and forestry and a member of the Senate standing committee on transport and communications, is a Senate vice-chair on the Canada-U.S. interparliamentary group. Prior to joining the Senate, Griffin worked in land conservation in her career and as a volunteer at a national and provincial level. Griffin was also a member of Stratford Town Council for 13 years and sees municipalities as key players in reducing Canada’s carbon footprint.
Daboo began her studies at UPEI in September 2016 as an international student from Mauritius. She graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor of science with honours in biology and a major in political science. While at UPEI, she was involved on campus in various ways, including vice-president academic and external for the UPEI Student Union. After completing her studies in May 2020, she became executive director of the P.E.I. Coalition for Women in Government. She is also the co-host of a public policy podcast entitled Dialogue with Drake and Daboo.
As representatives of two different generations of change-makers, they will discuss the similarities and disparities of their professional paths and share insights on how they believe women have succeeded or continue to struggle to obtain equality in public service.
The event will be moderated by Margaret Magner, executive director of the P.E.I. Business Women’s Association (PEIBWA).
“International Women’s Day events have taken place globally for more than one hundred years,” says Magner. “We’re proud to continue the tradition of celebrating women's achievements and raising awareness about women's equality in what is sure to be a fascinating exchange of stories and ideas.”
At a glance
- The P.E.I. Business Women’s Association (PEIBWA) is a member-based not-for-profit organization with a mandate to educate, empower and inspire P.E.I. women to succeed in their business endeavours.
- Incorporated in 1993, it is the only women’s business association with an Islandwide mandate in the province and has a membership of some 500 women entrepreneurs and business professionals.
- PEIBWA provides advisory services, training, opportunities for development and connections with other women in business.
- For information: peibwa.org.
- International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality. The 2021 IWD theme is #ChoosetoChallenge
