International Women’s Day 2023: Events around Vancouver

Wednesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day, and Vancouver is celebrating with a host of activities around the city.

For more than a century, International Women’s Day has recognized the accomplishments of women around the world and served as a call-to-action for advancing gender parity. The day is more than just a celebration – it’s a reminder that we still have work to do.

In technology jobs alone, women are far from reaching equal representation. A major reason is that innovation workplaces are male-dominated. A 2017 PEW Research Centre poll found that half of women said they experienced gender discrimination at work, while only 19 percent of men said the same. The numbers were even higher for women with a postgraduate degree (62 percent), working in computer jobs (74 percent), or in male-dominated companies (78 percent).

To find out how individuals and companies can close that gap between genders, check out these eight upcoming International Women’s day events.

WeGrowTogether: Celebrating 15 Years of Mentorship with WeBC | WeBC

What: A celebration of 15 years of WeBC, with a panel of local women who will share their mentorship stories and a livestream toast with seven communities around the province.

When: Tuesday, March 7 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. PST

Where: Better Business Bureau Serving Mainland BC (#500-1190 Melville Street)

Price: Free

Vancouver International Women in Film Festival | WIFTV

What: The only film festival dedicated to women and gender-diverse people in Western Canada, and one of just three international film festivals for women and gender-diverse people in the country.

When: March 7-11 in person, March 12-25 online

Where: VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour Street)

Price: Multiple ticket options

Celebrating Women in Science | Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

What: A virtual event featuring female leaders who are advancing research and innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at Vancouver Coastal Health.

When: Wednesday, March 8 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. PST

Where: Virtual

Price: Free

International Women’s Day | Canada Learning Code

What: A workshop offering female-identified and male-identified, trans, and non-binary adults hands-on, project-based learning experiences that are designed to give beginners the skills and confidence they need to become digital creators.

When: Wednesday, March 8 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. PST

Where: Electronic Arts (4330 Sanderson Way, Burnaby)

Price: By donation

#42 | Women and Innovation: Breakfast and Panel | France Executive Circle

What: A breakfast and a panel discussing French tech to celebrate International Women's Day.

When: Wednesday, March 8 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. PST

Where: Clearly Headquarters (401 West Georgia Street)

Price: $22.63

International Women’s Day Lunch ‘n’ Learn | SFSS Women’s Centre

What: A lunch 'n' learn talk featuring speakers from Stemcell Technologies, A&K Robotics, and Edee Care.

When: Wednesday, March 8 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. PST

Where: SFU Vancouver Campus (2270 Sauder Industries Policy Room, 515 West Hastings Street)

Price: Free