Tri-Cities Chamber International Women's Day Brunch 2024. L to R: Courtney Steeksma, Cybele Negris, Janine Davies.
(COQUITLAM) March 12, 2024 — It was a packed house at Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club on March 8 for the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce International Women's Day Brunch, with more than 200 in attendance. This year's global theme was 'Inspire Inclusion.'
Vivien Symington, Chair of the Tri-Cities Chamber Women in Business Committee.
"The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has released a report citing the glacial pace of progress towards equality for women in business," said Leslie Courchesne, CEO, Tri-Cities Chamber. She cited the findings that while the overall workforce in Canada was 48 per cent women in 2023, less than 25 per cent of corporate board directors across our nation are women.
"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," said Vivien Symington, Chamber Board Director and Chair of the Women in Business Committee. "We have come so far since the first International Women's Day celebrated in 1911. We are so blessed to be able to gather here today to bring attention to the achievements that have gotten us to this point in our community."
Keynote speaker Ravi Toor spoke about conscious leadership and inspired the audience to revolutionize themselves to affect change in their communities and the world.
Speaker panelists Cybele Negris, co-founder and CEO, Webnames.ca and Webnamescorporate.com, and Janine Davies, Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Raymond James Ltd., shared stories and insights from their careers in male-dominated industries. The panel was moderated by Courtney Steeksma, Senior Manager, Scotiabank Women Initiative.
TEDx speaker and conscious leadership expert Ravi Toor delivers keynote at Tri-Cities Chamber International Women's Day Brunch 2024.
Attendees enjoyed a performance by M'Girl, a trio of Indigenous women whose contemporary harmonies and percussive-based hand drum songs reflect their personal stories of home.
M'Girl performance. L to R: Renae Morriseau, Sherryl Sewepegaham, and Kelsey Wavey.
The event was sponsored by the Scotiabank Women Initiative, Coquitlam Continuing Education, Prospera Credit Union, Transmountain, Pacific Coast Terminals, BTM Lawyers LLP, Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club, Butter Studios, TriCity News, Coquitlam Florist, Sandpiper Signs & Decals, Dusk2Dawn Production, Lison Design, Muse & Merchant, Six Degrees, K'Pure Naturals, Community Ventures Society, and Webnames.ca.
View the full Event Photo Album on Facebook here.
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Since 1971, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce has been the largest business association serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, and Belcarra, now representing 1,300+ organizations from every sector. The Chamber works to foster economic development, provide connections and benefits, and influence public policy at all levels of government to ensure strong business and strong communities. The Tri-Cities Chamber is an active member of the BC and Canadian Chambers of Commerce.
For more information, contact:
Leslie Courchesne, Chief Executive Officer
Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce
ceo@tricitieschamber.com
604.468.6870