International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women and to encourage action on gender equity in our own communities and around the world. On Friday, March 8, the Queen’s Women’s Network (QWN) will mark the occasion by bringing women faculty and staff together to foster deeper connections, and promote women’s professional advancement on campus.

“Building a strong professional network is an important factor of career progression and job satisfaction,” says Carlyn McQueen, QWN event co-organizer, and Information and Project Coordinator in the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). “There are many bright and inspiring women at Queen's, and this event offers an informal opportunity to connect with other women on campus.”

The QWN event will include a brief introduction to the group – which strives to promote career development, challenge stereotypes, advance inclusivity and equity, and amplify women’s voices across campus. It will also include opportunities to connect with experts in career advancement, as well as information on resources and training opportunities available at the university. Women and self-identifying women faculty and staff interested in joining the QWN event can register online.

“Our focus this year has been to support women in their career growth at Queen’s through a series of events designed to encourage connections, build leadership skills, and promote on-going learning,” says Colleen Brown, QWN event co-organizer, and Coordinator (PCI Compliance and Operations). “Our efforts lend to the broader theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – #BalanceForBetter – which is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world.”

Groups across Queen’s are also marking International Women’s Day with campus events. Among them are:

Feminist Legal Studies Queen’s (FLSQ) in the Faculty of Law is hosting its annual International Women’s Day conference on March 8 and 9, which will feature discussions on gender, racial, Indigenous, and economic equality, as well as food security, and sustainability around the world. Distinguished Professor of Law, Angela P. Harris, of the University of California (Davis) Law School, will deliver the keynote lecture. Members of the student, university, and Kingston communities are all welcome to learn more and register to attend.

Queen’s Women in Computing (QWIC), a student group within the School of Computing, is hosting a Women in Tech: International Women's Day Celebration panel discussion on March 8 featuring women alumni working in the field of computing across a number industry sectors. Interested students may visit the QWIC Facebook page or the specific Facebook event page for more information and to RSVP.

On Saturday, March 16, the Queen’s Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) International Students Affairs and Equity and Diversity Commission will jointly host the Queen’s International Women’s Conference to celebrate women’s leadership in international graduate research. The event is free for Queen's students, staff, and faculty, and will include student and alumni panel discussions about scholarly accomplishments and career futures, as well as professional development workshops and keynote lecture by Jill Scott, Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) and Interim Associate Vice-Principal (International) at Queen's University. Learn more about the event and about how you can attend.

To discover or submit more International Women’s Day celebrations, visit the Queen’s University Events Calendar.