On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 women from the Stephenville-Bay St. George area came together to celebrate their strength, determination and compassion during an International Women’s Day (IWD) Brunch held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Stephenville.
Hosted by the BSG Status of Women, nearly 100 women and men united for their Pledge for Parity. Keynote speaker, Kim Kendell, Piccadilly Head Local Service District Chair, spoke of the strives women have taken in their pursuit of gender parity, including her own role as the 6th female to hold the elected seat of chairperson. “We have achieved this locally and the community accepts it, supports it and voted for it,” she said. “There is much work to be done, but the Local Service District of Piccadilly Head has proven it can be accomplished.”
Ms. Kendell spoke of women who continue to be strong when faced with adversity and how teamwork is the key, “A team approach is what we need to strive for to ensure women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement.” During her keynote she made special mention of Michelle Jesso, Deck Boss with Discovery Channel’s Cold Water Cowboys who lives and works alongside her husband in a “non-traditional” role where she is his equal in all manners.
Following Ms. Kendell’s keynote, Lori Gardner of Corner Brook, was presented the Stephanie Cormier Chaisson Memorial Leadership Award by Sherrie Chaulk, co-chair of the Bay St. George Status of Women Council. The award — named in memory of Stephanie Cormier Chaisson, who died at the hands of violence — is presented through a partnership between the Bay St. George Status of Women’s Council and College of the North Atlantic.
Ms. Gardner, first-year community studies student at College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville, hopes that one day her three daughters will know gender parity and that she is a role model to them influencing them to take leadership roles in their own lives.