By Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo women’s march a call to action

Jan 19, 2019 | 12:18 PM

NANAIMO — The third annual Nanaimo women’s march is more than an empowering walk this year.

Co-organizer and outgoing chair Melissa Stephens said the Saturday event where roughly 100 advocates braved the harsh rain won’t end after everyone went home. This year, everyone was asked to create a call to action, something tangible they can do to better the world for women.

“We want to move forward not just in theory or abstract ways, but by actually identifying actions we can take, whether it’s in our local communities or beyond,” Stephens told NanaimoNewsNOW. “There’s a practical component so when we leave this march, we can go do something in our communities.”

Calls to action could be anything small, from reading more books written by women of colour, to volunteering and advocating for women’s groups.

Speaker Dawn Clark, who’s the director of programming with Haven Society, said having so many women making so many different decisions is important to ensure everyone has a better future.

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“Some of us are slower runners, based on our past experiences and those at the front of the pack need to make allowances for those who haven’t had or may never have the same opportunities.”

Clark likened the glass ceiling as more of a concrete ceiling for many women of colour or women who live in poverty.

“We need to acknowledge that and look at ways we can support each other in the way that works best for the individual. Fifty per cent of the world’s population is women but within that 50 per cent that’s stratification based on the colour of your skin, your position, your education, so many disadvantages women face on a daily basis.”

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit