ICCC celebrates International Women’s Day
Over 200 women and men participated enthusiastically in Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC)’s eighth annual International Women’s Day on 6 March 2020 at Pearson Convention Centre.
The program comprised insightful address by Hon. Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Development; Hon. Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Public Service and Procurement; and Alexis Black, Intellectual Property Officer, Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
In her speech, Minister Ng said, “Canada’s inclusive trade policies help women-owned businesses grow in the global marketplace and ensure that all Canadians—including women—benefit from our trade agreements.”
In her speech, Minister Anand said, “Canada’s efforts to empower women and girls are strengthened by our country’s first-ever Feminist International Assistance Policy, along with our updated National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.”
Hon. Mary Ng
Hon. Anita Anand
Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of India, emphasized the support of family, peers and friends as being crucial to a woman’s success. She said institutional mechanism needs to be developed that automatically supports women empowerment.
A riveting panel discussion involving panelists Hon. Jill Dunlop, Ontario’s Associate Minister for Children and Women’s Issues; Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of India in Toronto; Maria May; Dean of Faculty of Applied Arts and Health Sciences followed the speeches. Aruna Anand of ICCC’s Women Entrepreneur and Professional Committee introduced the panelists.
Panelists: Apoorva Srivastava, Jill Dunlop, Maria May
The panelists discussed issues faced everyday by working women. These included questions pertaining to hurdle that women face in accomplishing their professional goals; the criticality support of the family to career success; support of their peers, both men and women; and the role of culture in promoting women empowerment.
A musical interlude of Hindustani classical music by the renowned Ramneek Singh enlivened the evening. The program was mesmerised by the iconic former mayor of Mississauga Hazel McCallion supercharged the evening with excitement and expectations.
Hazel McCallion
Alexis Black
In his welcome address, Pramod Goyal, President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce, said the celebration of the international women’s day is part of an evolutionary process of the 43-year-old Chamber that began with the formation of the Women Entrepreneurs and Professional Committee in 2012.
He further added, “Indo-Canadian women have started to make a mark in all domains of career and public life.” It is but natural that as the largest Indo-Canadian business organisation, the ICCC should recognise this phenomenon and give a voice to Indo-Canadian women. Our International Women’s Day program has grown steadily and has now become an important fixture on the diaspora’s annual calendar.
The evening was replete with gift bags and raffle draws, courtesy TELUS Business, Seneca College, Ozone Signature, RBC Insurance, and Warraich Meats.
