We ask you to please join us in marking International Women’s Day and reflecting on this year’s Canadian theme: Every Woman Counts.

We have many opportunities for women to advance their careers and academic pursuits in our region. However, we must acknowledge the on-going struggle women face around the world toward achieving equity, including the denial of educational opportunities.

The World Bank notes 2.4 billion women globally are not afforded equal economic opportunity, with 178 nations maintaining legal barriers preventing their full economic participation.[i] Some examples in education include the Taliban banning women from universities in Afghanistan,[ii] and the alleged poisoning of 700 girls by toxic gas in Iran in what is believed to be a deliberate attempt to force the closure of their school.[iii]

That’s why we must do everything we can to ensure access to education and the opportunity to succeed. CNC’s lhulh whuts’odutel’eh | Learning Together strategic plan speaks to promoting a rich learning environment responsive to meeting diverse learning needs and styles. Our strategic plan also addresses the need to foster collaboration, diversity, and inclusion as we work to meet students’ needs. Diversity of women includes those who are lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex or queer (LGBTQIA2S+); women of colour; women from diverse social and economic backgrounds, religions and families; women with a range of physical abilities; and gender non-conforming people.

We have wonderful examples of women at CNC making a difference in learning together, changing lives, and creating futures. They are CNC students who’ve come to start or advance their careers or academic journeys. Today’s students will be tomorrow’s women leaders, and we are very proud to help them achieve their goals.

We can also see the impact of women at CNC in classrooms as instructors; in key operational roles throughout the college; as well as leading services, campuses, program areas, and executive portfolios. They are making enormous progress as CNC strives to meet the promise we provide for learners and communities across the region we serve.

We are grateful to the women in the CNC community who make a difference every day by setting and achieving their learning goals, in fostering student success through inspiration and creating opportunities for women, and leading new initiatives to make our college welcoming, equitable, and inclusive.

We can and will do more together, while celebrating many successes along the way.

Thank you.