Women activists at UFCW Canada Local 500R took the opportunity of International Women’s Day (IWD, recognized March 8 each year) to celebrate by organizing a family day event. More than 60 people participated in the festivities, held on a spectacular unseasonably-warm Sunday afternoon at the local union’s Montreal office.

“More than half of our union’s members are women,” says Robert Armstrong, secretary-treasurer of Local 500R, who attended the event. “It was a great idea to celebrate such a special day with women and their families.” The event was organized by Local 500R union representatives Olivia-Maude Cournoyer and Suzie Giard (who is pictured with some of the happy kids at the party). Both are also members of the Local 500R Women’s Committee.

To entertain the youngest participants, there were makeup artists, entertainment, riddles, and games of skill. Participants in the skills challenge had to go through six different stages of competition – including a giant Wii station – and there were points awarded for participation as well as successful completion of the games. All the children received a door prize, and, at the end of the day, there was a draw for six prizes for those who submitted their score cards.

With appetites worked up, snacks, juice, and a cake decorated with the UFCW Canada Local 500R Women’s Committee were enjoyed. “This International Women’s Day celebration was really a success,” Sister Giard, a former national staff representative, says. “We hope it will become a tradition.”


DIRECTIONS • Vol. X No. 11 • March 22, 2010