The theme for International Women’s Day this year is Choose to Challenge and for Emelda Byrne, that’s about women seeking out new opportunities.

“I really believe there’s hope for women today based on what they seek out in opportunities, and what they believe they are capable of,” says the WECDSB’s Associate Director of Education. “We just need to make sure that we provide the opportunities and that they seek out those opportunities.”

Held annually on March 8, International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and to honour all those women who have achieved positions of leadership in their careers and communities.

At the WECDSB, many women have risen to senior leadership positions. Six of the Board’s nine senior administrative positions are occupied by women; 24 of the 46 Principals in WECDSB schools are women, and 29 of 42 Vice Principals are female.

These women have set goals, and aspired to be role models to young women and girls. So International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate all women throughout the WECDSB who are inspiring girls to aim higher, according to Colleen Norris. 

“You want students to be able to see themselves,” says the WECDSB’s Superintendent of Human Resources. “So we certainly want all of our female students to see those women in front of them in the class, those quality leaders.”

Check out this great video for International Women’s Day that focuses on the WECDSB’s six female administrative leaders.