The 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration in Edmonton
- 王琳 Lynn Wang
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Give to Gain
A Chronicle of the 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration in Edmonton
Reported by Lynn Wang
【CMHnews Edmonton】 On the evening of March 4, Edmonton hosted a warm and empowering International Women’s Day celebration. Organized by Alberta Counsel, the annual gala took place downtown, bringing together female representatives from government, non-profifit organizations, media, and community groups to discuss female leadership, social responsibility, and the future of cross-community collaboration.
The theme of the event, “Give to Gain,” emphasized a simple yet profound philosophy: when society invests in the safety, education, and leadership of women, the ultimate benefificiary is the future of the entire community.
The evening was hosted by Taneen Rudyk. A four-term town councillor from Vegreville, Alberta, Rudyk has long been a prominent fifigure in local government and community advocacy. Her warm and infectious hosting style created an atmosphere that was both intimate and powerful.
The Farm Daughter’s Story: How Conviction Changes Destiny
The fifirst keynote speaker of the evening was Christine McCourt-Reid, currently the Interim CEO and Director of External Relations for YWCA Edmonton.
Departing from a traditional institutional address, Christine began with her own upbringing. Born into a remote farming family in an era where many expected sons to inherit the land, her parents instead gave their three daughters a more precious gift: the confifidence to believe they could achieve anything.
To ensure their children received a quality education, her parents spent years advocating for school bus routes. Due to district restrictions, the bus could not cross county lines; her parents drove miles every day to drop the children at the boundary to catch the bus. They persisted through years of harsh winter blizzards.
It was this dedication that allowed Christine to become the fifirst in generations of her family to receive a post-secondary education.
“I realized as I grew up that what they were doing was advocacy—they were advocating for our future,” she said movingly during her speech.
This experience became the driving force behind her lifelong commitment to the nonprofifit sector.
YWCA: A Social Pillar of the City
Christine also highlighted the pivotal role of the YWCA within the Edmonton community. Founded in 1907, YWCA Edmonton has a history spanning over a century, evolving from a women’s mutual aid group into one of the city’s essential social service agencies.
Today, YWCA’s initiatives include:
• Domestic violence prevention
• Leadership development for women and youth
• Mental health and community counseling
• Support for persons with disabilities and vulnerable populations
In Christine’s view, these programs are the most tangible manifestation of the “Give to Gain” philosophy: when people invest time, resources, and care into the community, society gains stronger cohesion and security.
She also reminded the audience that progress in women’s rights is never static. “We are seeing that today. Every generation needs to re-secure those gains.”
She shared a case from the YWCA involving a woman experiencing long-term domestic violence who, when fifirst seeking help, doubted if she was even worthy of being saved. What changed her life was the realization that someone believed she deserved a future defifined by safety and dignity.
From Family to Society: The Intergenerational Legacy of Female Power
The evening’s second guest speaker was media professional Jessica Kent, a former TV news anchor and co-host of the podcast “Just Us Gals.”
During her speech, she used humor to address the challenges of motherhood: “Motherhood is sometimes like navigating a leaking raft, but it’s those small wins that keep us going.”
Jessica shared the stories of three generations of women in her family. Her grandmother was forced to leave her home at the outbreak of WWII, traveling from Europe to Canada to restart her life. Despite the language barrier and signifificant hardships, she worked tirelessly to build a family and pass down a spirit of resilience and struggle to the next generation.
This legacy deeply inflfluenced Jessica’s own path. She recalled having a stable media career but being forced to rethink her direction after losing her job. During that period of uncertainty, she launched her podcast, hoping to encourage others to break old cycles and raise a stronger, kinder next generation.
“Life gives you many unexpected turns, but sometimes, that is exactly the gift of life,” she remarked.
Building Bridges: Engaging with Canadian Mainstream Society
By reporting on this event hosted by Alberta Counsel, CMH News aims not only to record a celebration but to deliver a clear message to the Chinese community: in a multicultural society like Canada, understanding and participating in mainstream public institutions and community organizations is a vital path to true integration.
In Edmonton, organizations like YWCA Edmonton have long played a crucial role in women's safety, family support, and youth development. They represent the values of responsibility and mutual aid central to Canadian public culture.
The story shared by Christine McCourt-Reid—from a farm girl to a leader in social advocacy—demonstrates the profound connection between education, hard work, and giving back. These values align closely with the Chinese community’s emphasis on education and creating a better future for the next generation.
Through this report, CMH News hopes readers will see how these organizations maintain the "warmth" of the city while shaping the public spirit of Canada.
The Role of Times Weekly: Connecting Communities and Society
As one of the largest Chinese-English bilingual magazines in Western Canada, CMH News has long focused on the development of the Chinese community while reporting on signifificant public issues. Media serves as more than a messenger; it is a bridge for understanding and engagement.
As more Chinese immigrants put down roots in Canada, the interaction between the Chinese community and local mainstream society becomes increasingly important. Documenting such events helps Chinese readers understand Canadian systems while allowing the mainstream to see the active civic participation of the Chinese community.
As Christine concluded her speech, she posed two questions to the audience: “What have we each been given?” “And what will we choose to give next?”
These are reflflections for everyone living in Edmonton.
In a society of diverse cultures, when people step out of their communities to participate in public affairs, the cycle between “Giving” and “Gaining” becomes the momentum for social progress.
Recording these connections is the true purpose of our presence as a media outlet.
《天时周刊》官网站
我们一起看世界！
《天时周刊》隶属于加拿大天时传媒公司，英文名Multicultural Herald ，是加西地区唯一中英双语刊物。报道范围涉及加拿大三级政府，受众范围覆盖埃德蒙顿、卡尔加里、温哥华、维多利亚、多伦多等多个主要城市。天时传媒荣获国际华媒联盟理事单位，2023年成为国务院侨办“海外媒体论坛”受邀单位、博鳌论坛女性文化品牌国际影响力受邀海外媒体单位。2022年，天时传媒被加拿大多元文化联盟授予年度媒体进步奖和优秀记者奖。2023年，天时传媒拍摄的纪录片《竞选之路》（英文名《Candidate》）荣获 2023 北美国际青年电影节纪录片提名奖、2023年世界电影节特殊贡献奖。
Comments