Vaughan Inspires a Positive Culture for International Women's Day

Feb. 27, 2015 12:00 a.m.

​Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!

A celebration of optimism, forward thinking and inspired change took place at Vaughan City Hall yesterday as Members of Council and special guests commemorated International Women’s Day. The event, held in collaboration with the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women, provided an opportunity for participants to voice their ideas on female empowerment and contribute to an artwork collage to reflect this year’s theme Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!

International Women’s Day was first celebrated on March 8, 1911, and was later sanctioned by the United Nations as a day to promote and encourage the dignity, rights and well-being of women around the world. This global day of recognition reflects on the historical struggle for the social, political and economic equality of women, and serves as a vehicle for acknowledging women’s achievements.

A special presentation was made by Dr. Angela Mailis, director and founder of the Comprehensive Pain Program at Toronto Western Hospital/University Health Network, senior investigator with the Krembil Neuroscience Centre and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. She is also a founding member of the University of Toronto Centre for the study of pain, founder and director of the Pain and Wellness Centre in Vaughan, and author of the book Beyond Pain: Making the Mind-Body Connection.

Other special guests:

  • Evelyn Rayson, LLP, senior family law practitioner, member of the board of directors of Jewish Child and Family Services and contributor to Continuing Legal Education Programs
  • Stefano DiMatteo, actor and co-founder of The ACTORS ROOM acting studio
  • Sandra Scarpelli, featured photographer of the Planet Earth Series — Petscapes: Tails of the Lost + Found exhibition at Vaughan City Hall and member of the Professional Photographers of Canada
  • Artist group members from the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women
  • Representatives from the York Regional Police Services and Toronto Police Services

For more information on this initiative or other cultural projects, please contact Mirella Tersigni, cultural and community development co-ordinator, at 905-832-8585, ext. 8459 or mirella.tersigni@vaughan.ca or visit vaughan.ca/artsandculture.

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