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On October 5 – 7, more than 100 Unifor sisters and siblings gathered in Calgary for the Prairie Region Women’s Conference, uniting under the theme: Rising Together – Voices of Strength and Solidarity.
The conference began with a conversation about the struggles and power of women with Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. The conversation, facilitated by Unifor Women’s Director, Tracey Ramsey, focused on the importance of solidarity in a time where women, workers, and gender-diverse people are under attack.
Irwin spoke to the work she has been part of to oppose anti-worker legislation and bills targeting queer and trans people. “We have to keep fighting,” she said. “It’s that coming together, seeing Albertans stepping up and fighting back that keeps us going every day in the legislature.”
Building on the theme of strength and solidarity, day two kicked off with a presentation by Women’s Director, Tracey Ramsey, about Unifor’s campaign to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. The presentation highlighted the work being done across the country by Unifor members, including successfully advocating for a bill that passed in Nova Scotia and a motion in New Brunswick.
Next, Dr. Rupinder Toor shared the work of Project EmpowHer, an initiative that was part of successfully advocating for universal contraception in Alberta. She highlighted the life-changing impact of policies that improve access to publicly funded contraceptives and shared how her personal experiences shaped her advocacy.
Speaking to her experience as a family physician, Dr. Toor shared, “one of the things I realized in my career is that I had the opportunity to hold the stories of so many women. And I can hear sometimes these patterns. And when you see enough of these patterns then I felt… it’s really my responsibility now to take that information and take it to the people who can actually make a difference.”
Dr. Toor exemplified how when we raise our voices, we can make real change.
This theme was also front and center in Cambria Harris’ presentation on the urgent need for action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). Harris shared her experience of urging the government of Manitoba to search the landfill for her mother, Morgan Harris’, remains after she went missing in May 2022.
“It’s more than just a news headline or something you watch. I’m not just a story that you saw or a face in the media. It’s my reality, every day, for the rest of my life,” said Harris. “And it’s a reality to face throughout our lifetime and beyond as it affects future generations in a vicious cycle for years to come repeatedly and painstakingly.”
She highlighted the importance of exposing racism and colonialism, sharing the impact of speaking up and speaking out to end violence.
In afternoon discussion groups, sisters and siblings learned about the rise of the right and countering hate, followed by a workshop exploring our own past, present and futures as women.
The last day of the conference highlighted women in leadership, beginning with a panel discussion that featured women from the Prairie region who hold leadership positions. The insightful panel discussion included Catherine Canning, Jodi Kieper and Cecily Howe.
Unifor National President, Lana Payne, closed the conference, reflecting on the legacy of working women and the importance of opportunities to come together. “Many of the issues women before us have fought for are still relevant today, because we know history can’t be changed overnight,” said Payne. “This history is one we continue to build upon: Just like everything we need to build on in this union doesn’t happen overnight. We keep going. We keep organizing. We keep building.”
Sisters and siblings are ready to bring their voices of strength and solidarity back to their workplaces and communities.
View photos from the Prairie Region Women’s Conference here.
Sign up for updates from the Women’s Department at unifor.org/women.
