Mayor Michel Gibson

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Elected officials joined many residents at the West Island Women’s Centre’s (WIWC) new and second location in Pierrefonds last week to hear the inspiring testimonies of women leaders in the community.

Among those in attendance were Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson, Baie-D’Urfé Mayor Heidi Ektvedt, Dorval Mayor Marc Doret, Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas, MP for Pierrefonds-Dollard Sameer Zuberi and MP for Lac-St-Louis Francis Scarpaleggia.

Sixteen community organizations set up booths behind the seating arrangement in front of the stage to showcase their services and offer information during the coffee and snack breaks.

“International Women’s Day at the West Island Woman’s Centre is a very important event for us. It is an opportunity for us to highlight the contributions of our 900 members, to reach out to the community and to showcase other non-profit organizations which are making a difference,” WIWC board member Dipa Mehta said to The Suburban.

West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA), president Joan Lee shared a heartfelt testament to three special women whom she holds as role models, Gloria Baylis, Gloria Johnson and her mother, who to her surprise was asked to stand for a round of applause. “It is not easy to be a woman, much less a woman of colour. We need to be the change that we seek. Women do the work that they do, not for the income, but for the outcome.”

Attendees listened intently as Thi Be Nguyen, Executive Director in Canada for the Canada-ASEAN business council, told her personal story of how her family fled Vietnam in 1980. For three nights through forests and two nights by boat to leave that country and seek a better life in Canada after being imprisoned for two months. She told the tale of herself as a young girl growing up in Canada, with the challenges of becoming a woman and reaching her goals with the limitations set on her both from home and in society. She explained how she managed to break down those barriers and become the accomplished person that she is today. “Today there are networks and organizations that help women overcome these challenges and promote change,” she said. “We have come a long way with a long way to go.”

“Our goal here (WIWC) is to provide a safe space for women to interact and support each other,” WIWC board of directors member Lisa Gertsman told The Suburban. n