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Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal – January 25, 2019 – Activists from UFCW Canada Locals 401 and 1006A and TUAC Quebec recently joined hundreds of community members, allies, and women’s rights advocates at Women’s Marches in Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal to raise awareness of the ongoing need for gender equity.

As part of a series of annual demonstrations held in cities around the world, the Women’s March attracts participants from all ages, genders, and backgrounds and seeks to denounce gender-based discrimination, violence, and harassment, as well as highlight the struggles of women from marginalized backgrounds – including women of colour and those from the LGBTQI2S community.

In Edmonton, UFCW Local 401 activists joined approximately 200 women and men who gathered at Churchill Square to advocate for women’s rights and support for those struggling with violence in their homes and inequity in our workplaces. At the event, participants heard from Local 401 Organizer Catherine Lelis, who spoke about her struggles growing up and at work, and how her union helped foster change in the workplace.

In Toronto, UFCW Local 1006A members and staff braved the snowy conditions at Nathan Phillips Square to make women’s voices heard loud and clear and to stand up to politicians’ attacks on local communities and public services. The event focused on the gender wage gap in Ontario – which currently stands at 30 percent – and highlighted how Doug Ford’s cuts to sick days and scheduling improvements are impacting women workers.

In Montreal, TUAC Quebec activists marched with concerned citizens and human rights groups from across the province to stand in solidarity with victims of gender-based violence and demand progress on gender equity and women’s rights.

The marches were originally inspired by the 2017 Women’s March on Washington and its sister marches, which saw over 5 million participants rally in cities around the world to inspire, unite, and lead the charge for the advancement of women globally.

As a leading advocate for women workers in Canada, UFCW’s participation in the annual Women’s Marches is just one of many initiatives that our union engages in to empower women across the country.  To find out more about UFCW Canada’s advocacy for women, visit www.ufcw.ca/women.