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Local organizations and businesses finding ways to honour women for International Women's Day

'We are proud to be able to take this opportunity to give back to women in our community'

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To celebrate International Women’s Day on Tuesday, some Calgary organizations are hosting open conversations with community leaders and businesses are offering unique ways for people to donate to local women’s charities.

Eau Claire Distillery in Turner Valley is releasing a single malt whisky called Yours Truly on Tuesday, and will be donating $10 from every bottle sold to the Women in Need Society (WINS) in Calgary. The whisky was blended by their three women distillers, including their master distiller Caitlin Quinn.

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“We are proud to be able to take this opportunity to give back to women in our community,” said Quinn.

Quinn said the whisky was carefully curated and reflects each of the women who work behind the scenes at Eau Claire Distillery with flavours of honey, burnt sugar and oak and a slightly sour twang — and the label on the bottle is signed by each of the women.

“It was important that our first International Women’s Day Whisky is a reflection of the women distillers we have on our team,” Quinn said.

“We enjoyed flexing our creativity in a new way and are so proud of the amazing product we have developed collaboratively. Our goal with this whisky is to celebrate the achievements of women in distilling and to encourage future generations of women to continue to make moves and break the glass ceiling — in whatever industry that may be.”

Yours Truly will be available at the Eau Claire Distillery Tasting Room at the Calgary Farmers Market and online starting Tuesday.

Also raising funds for WINS is Southcentre Mall, who launched a month-long campaign to celebrate WINS’ 30th anniversary and International Women’s Day.

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Inside the Women In Need Society MORE! Store and operation centre located in the SE. March 6, 2022.
Inside the Women In Need Society MORE! Store and operation centre located in the SE. March 6, 2022. Photo by Brendan Miller/Postmedia

Those who visit Southcentre this month can get a potted plant for donations to WINS and can check out a Women’s Day-inspired art installation. The art is three double-sided backdrops that represent the three key pillars that WINS’ programs offer women in need: basic needs, emotional support, and confidence and skill-building.

The installation is meant to provide education and raise awareness about everything WINS does in the community.

Karen Ramchuk, executive director at WINS, said the organization has now helped local women fight for equality, inclusion and acceptance of diversity for 30 years. WINS operates six thrift stores, four community resource hubs and employment programs across the city.

“We believe in nurturing women and their families, encouraging growth and giving them the tools to thrive,” Ramchuk said.

Inside the Women In Need Society MORE! Store and operation centre located in the SE. March 6, 2022.
Inside the Women In Need Society MORE! Store and operation centre located in the SE. March 6, 2022. Photo by Brendan Miller/Postmedia

Mayor Jyoti Gondek, the first woman to serve as Calgary’s mayor, participated in an interfaith symposium held online Sunday by Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association. The event, themed “Inspiring Women of Faith,” was meant to open the discussion about how women of faith can work together to create a more peaceful society.

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“We want to work towards removing any misconceptions or hatred that we have in our community,” said Amtul Qayyum Anjum, regional president for the Calgary branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association.

She said the group was grateful Gondek joined the program and shared with the women present.

The city’s Baha’i community is hosting an online panel discussion about gender equality, with guests who will talk about how women can overcome barriers toward an equitable future. The discussion, scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., is accessible through Baha’i Faith in Calgary’s Facebook page and website.

According to the event details, the panel presentation will talk about how women from a wide range of backgrounds can work together for a fair and equitable world.

Mount Royal University is celebrating International Women’s Day by live-streaming a talk with the university’s chancellor, Dawn Farrell. Farrell and a panel of women business leaders will reflect on how MRU aspires to be a place where men and women lead together, and be a leader in making room for “he/she and they in top positions in university organizations.”

Information about the panel, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Tuesday, can be found at MRU’s website.

sbabych@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BabychStephanie

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