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Richmond Women’s Resource Centre is celebrating International Women’s Day with an in-person event for the first time since 2020.

Photo courtesy Richmond Women’s Resource Centre

Richmond Women’s Resource Centre volunteers are preparing for this year’s silent auction, which opens on Feb. 18.

Photo courtesy Richmond Women’s Resource Centre

Women’s resource centre hosting annual event

By Hannah Scott

Published 12:19 PST, Fri February 17, 2023

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Richmond Women’s Resource Centre (RWRC) is returning to an in-person format for its annual International Women’s Day event, scheduled for March 4. This year’s theme is “Emerge With Us.”

“This particular International Women’s Day event is different from anything else that we’ve done before,” says RWRC president Tammi Belfer. “We’re doing it in a different location, we’re celebrating emerging women artists—Cherelle Jardine (is) going to be our entertainment for that day.”

Following two years of virtual events, Belfer says precautions will still be taken this year, including having masks and hand sanitizer available for people. Instead of a sit-down dinner, Storeys Café—run by Turning Point Recovery Society—will cater the event.

“Every dollar they earn (goes) to Turning Point, and the people that work there are people who are in rehabilitation,” says Belfer. “It’s a fantastic thing that we’re able to work together with another organization, they’ve been absolutely wonderful to work with, and their food is delicious.”

The different location and format, Belfer adds, provided a good opportunity for the classic event to re-imagine and re-invent itself. Holly Munn, a communications professor at the University of British Columbia, will be the master of ceremonies.

Belfer says it’s exciting and nerve-wracking to be coming together in-person again. She envisions a hybrid future with some teaching, meetings, and other offerings continuing online.

“There are going to be people who are always afraid to come in a group, and there are people who need that to build our community back again,” she adds. “In-person is a different dimension.”

The annual silent auction will take place entirely online, but items will be brought in on the event day for people to look at. Belfer is grateful to local businesses for their support in making the silent auction happen. Among the auction items, there is the unique opportunity of a private concert from Jardine’s band, Stone Poets.

RWRC offers a variety of programs, including a high school committee to support young women in grades 10 to 12 who are exploring their professional futures. The organization’s single moms program is expanding, currently offering a food skills workshop with childminding. Other programs help with employment, computer skills, résumé writing, and English language skills.

Newcomers to Canada who drop into the centre have expressed interest in learning about the country’s history, customs, and Indigenous peoples, so RWRC is developing a program to help provide this information.

“It’s a very well-developed program, and that’s one we’re going to be starting if we can get the funding for it,” says Belfer. “One thing I’ve noticed over the seven or eight years that I’ve been a member of the (RWRC) is (that) the diversity has changed and the landscape is fantastic, and everyone’s getting to know each other and it’s beautiful. We’re a diverse, inclusive environment.”

RWRC’s volunteer base has grown, with more community members coming forward to help. And that’s a good thing, since demand for its programs has grown rapidly since the pandemic began. Money raised goes to support programs and equipment upgrades, among other things.

“We are looking for people to just drop into our centre—(we’re) open to women of all ages, all stages of life,” says Belfer. “We’re just open for help in any direction, any way, (and) we’re trying to apply for more grants because we want to make sure we can keep our doors open.”

Tickets for RWRC’s International Women’s Day event cost $50 per person. For more information, visit richmondwomenscentre.org/2023-iwd-celebration/