Celebrating 100 years

Times Reporter

 

Wheatland Business Women will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8. They will be celebrating by having breakfast at Rocky and Ellie’s Café. Leslie Pringle, owner of Eagle Lake RV Resort will be the guest speaker. Pringle is an entrepreneur, a single mother and a successful business owner, which are just some of the reasons she was picked as the guest speaker.

“For her to be able to set her goal, to be at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro on New Years Eve and achieve it is such an inspiration for all women to achieve their goal,” said Lin Walker, organizer of the breakfast. 

“No, it doesn’t necessarily have to be on the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It can be on whatever your mountain is, if you set your sight for that mountain top, you can achieve it.”  

Over the past 100 years, Canadian women have made huge strides and have had numerous opportunities open up for them. Wheatland Business Women draws from a diverse and dynamic group of business women throughout Wheatland County and the surrounding areas providing its members and the district support, education, speakers and brainstorming, networking and referral opportunities.

“I look at how far women have come, I think that’s the big thing, just how far women have come,” said Walker.  

In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to proclaim a day for women’s rights and international peace. Canada followed their lead and accepted March 8 as International Women’s Day. 

The labour force participation rate has increased from 68.2 per cent to 74.3 per cent over the past decade for women aged 15 to 64. In 2007 women made up 35 per cent of all self-employed individuals. There has also been an increase to the number of women working in managerial positions.

“If you set your mind to something, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female you can achieve it,” said Walker.  

She said the number of doors that may be closed for women now are far less than they were years ago. Walker believes, in our lifetime we will see women continue to rise up through the ranks.  

“The only thing stopping women now, are themselves,” said Walker. 

Networking begins at 8 a.m. on March 8at Rocky and Ellie’s Cafe, 102-95 Brent Boulevard, and breakfast will start at 8:30 a.m.