Annual Events
For a current events, view our calendar page.

The following are events we organize / help plan on a yearly basis:

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (March 8) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.

The idea of an International Women's Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies.

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Coady Women’s Picnic

Each summer, the Antigonish Women’s Resource Center organizes a gathering that brings together women from around the world studying at the Coady International Institute with women from the Antigonish community.

The Coady International Institute is world-renowned as a centre of excellence in community-based development. The Institute was named in honor of Rev. Dr. Moses Coady, a prominent founder of the Antigonish Movement-a people's movement for economic and social justice that began in Nova Scotia during the 1920s.

More information on the Coady International Institute...

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December 6 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day coincides with the anniversary of the death of fourteen young women who were killed on December 6, 1989 at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal because they were women.

Beyond commemorating the loss of these fourteen young lives, this day represents a time to pause and reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is a time to acknowledge all the women and girls who live daily with the threat of violence or who have died as a result of deliberate acts of gender-based violence. It is a day for communities to reflect on concrete actions that each of us can take to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

More information on December 6...

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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17)

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is recognized annually on October 17th throughout the world. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1992, but the first commemoration of the event took place in Paris, France in 1987. 100,000 people gathered on the Plaze of Human Rights and Liberties at the Trocadéro to honor victims of poverty, hunger, violence and fear.

One of the main aims of the October 17 event is to amplify the voices of people living in poverty. To this end, commemorations often include testimonies from people living in poverty about their own experiences or those of people they know.

The Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre recognizes that women, children and visible minorities are disproportionately affected by poverty. On October 17th, we honor and strive to reflect the experiences of these groups through our awareness-raising event.

Click here for more information on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

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Other Events

The AWRC also recognizes the following events:

National Aboriginal Day
In cooperation with national Aboriginal organizations, the Government of Canada designated June 21 National Aboriginal Day. This date was chosen because it corresponds to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and because for generations, many Aboriginal groups have celebrated their culture and heritage at this time of year. National Aboriginal Day is a wonderful opportunity to become better acquainted with the cultural diversity of Inuit, Metis and First Nations peoples, discover the unique accomplishments of Aboriginal peoples in fields as varied as agriculture, the environment and the arts, and celebrate their significant contribution to Canadian society.

Mother’s Day
Mother’s day was originally started after the American Civil War, as a protest to the carnage of that war, by women who had lost their sons. In 1872, Julia Ward Howe, author of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic", proposed an annual Mother's Day for Peace. Committed to abolishing war, Howe wrote: "Our husbands shall not come to us reeking with carnage... Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs". Our consumerist market may have fueled the commercialism around the holiday, and the role of mothers in families is indeed important, but Mother's Day is not only about honoring a woman's devotion to her own family; it is about the work that women do to create a peaceful, safe, caring and just world for all.

List of Key Events  

Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women: Key Dates for Women

Canadian Women’s Timeline (pdf)

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