The Town of Collingwood honoured International Women’s Day with a virtual panel today featuring eight speakers from around the world.
Following the theme of “Choose to Challenge” the panelists shared pieces of their stories followed by a question and answer session with attendees.
Here’s a highlight of what each panelist had to say.
“If you decide to keep fighting, you will find a whole new world of opportunities.” – Amalia Ortuño
The interior designer and Crossfit champion is from Costa Rica, where she built a career as a triathlete until a genetic disease impacted her ability to walk. She is also an adaptive Crossfit world champion.
“I wouldn’t be here today or on this crazy journey if I hadn’t pushed myself.” – Anisha Bensdira
A Collingwood high school student who experienced a pivotal moment in her personal identity journey during a Black Lives Matter event in May. For her International Women’s Day story, Bensdira shared her struggle trying everything to not look like herself, to live up to “racist and unattainable beauty standards.”
“It is [my daughter’s] future of inclusion, belonging, self-love, acceptance and value that drives me further to build a strong community for her and all the children around us.” – Ashley Lougheed
The CEO and founder of Collingwood-based Girl Time Inc., Lougheed shared her passion for strong community and surrounding yourself with people who collaborate, uplift and encourage. She is inspired by her daughter, and strives to be a strong role model.
“You shouldn’t remain silent unless you choose to.” – Hadeel Khasawneh
A human rights lawyer in Jordan, Khasawneh learned one of her first lessons in censorship at 12 years old. With support from her father, a judge, she learned never to apologize for talking about what she believed in.
“You should always have a candle rather than curse the darkness.” - Hiam Al-Qaisi
A school teacher and municipal councillor in Jordan, Al-Qaisi has faced cultural and ideological attacks against her faith and her gender. She has also had the support of her five children and her husband to challenge assumptions and those who might dismiss her because of her face covering, her ideology, and her womanhood.
“Balance is possible when we allow people to take their rightful place in our communities.” – Jillian Morris
A Kanien’kehaka (Mohawk) woman and band member of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Morris is a story keeper from a matriarchal clan. She shared one of the stories passed to her from generations of Indigenous women about the three sister plants — corn, beans and squash — which, though different, grow together in unity, sharing their strengths to make sure all three succeed and thrive.
“Make your conscious mind outsmart unconscious bias.” – Katherine Vandebelt
Vandebelt's mission is to make the workplace fair for everyone. She encouraged people to recognize unconscious bias that creates disparity. Vandebelt lives in Florida and her parents live in Collingwood.
“It is only in your own heart that you will form what you need to say to bring your own passion, your gifts and your voice to the world.” – Sonya Skinner
Collingwood’s CAO, Skinner said she’s lucky she grew up with the confidence to speak up, though that didn’t always happen. She spoke on the importance of listening and asking questions to better understand the person you’re communicating with.
