Every year, the Bridges for Women community gathers to celebrate International Women’s Day. Our traditional luncheon event features inspiring speakers and community leaders. In 2020, we welcomed over 230 friends to learn from powerful women whose work explores the role of art and creativity in nurturing personal growth, revitalizing culture, and building community.
JUMP TO:
2021 Fundraiser
March 8, 2021
11:00am – 12:15pm PST
Online via Zoom
Join us for an inspiring gathering with keynote speakers, a silent auction, and solidarity for women’s empowerment. Registration is by donation, with a locally-sourced Tea-and-Treats gift bag available with donations over $50 for attendees in the Victoria area.
Our keynote speakers will be sharing their insights about women’s empowerment, social responsibility, and their work as leaders through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers include:
We are thrilled to welcome back Robin Farrell from Ocean 98.5 as our fearless MC.
All proceeds from the event support women impacted by violence and trauma by sustaining the healing, education, and employment programs at Bridges for Women. These programs are essential in ending the cycle of violence, poverty and isolation for women in Victoria and across BC.
Dr. Danièle Behn Smith received her Doctor of Medicine from McMaster University and has been working to support Indigenous health in the Office of the Provincial Health Officer since 2015. She is Eh Cho Dene (Big Animal People) of the Fort Nelson First Nation in B.C. with French Canadian/Métis roots in the Red River Valley. Dr. Behn Smith practiced rural medicine in First Nations communities across Canada and has served as a board director for the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, the director of education for the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Health Initiatives Program and the site director of the University of British Columbia’s Aboriginal Family practice residency. Dr Behn Smith was the host of “Medicine Woman”, a 13-episode television series which explored traditional healing practices in ten countries.
Kathryn Calder is a musician, songwriter, and record label and studio owner based in Victoria. In July 2019, she was selected as Artist in Residence for the City of Victoria, which involves working with the City in the realm of public art and community engagement for a two-year term. She has recently launched 1-877-2BE-CALM, a toll-free phoneline designed to bring soothing auditory experiences to individuals in the Greater Victoria Area and across Canada. The phone line has a wide variety of comforting and joyful content featuring calming nature sounds, stories, meditations, music, poetry and children’s laughter.
Anne Kang was first elected as the MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake in 2017 and previously served as Minister of Citizens’ Services before being named as Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training following her 2020 re-election. She holds a Master degree in Special Education from the University of British Columbia and was a three-term Burnaby City Councillor before becoming an MLA. Anne has been a leader in many organizations that build community and support those who are vulnerable and was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 for her commitment to community and her contribution to Canada.
Robin Farrell is an award-winning broadcaster with 17 years of morning show experience – 12 of which have been spent here in Victoria. She currently hosts the morning show with A.J. Cruze on Ocean 98.5 She previously worked as a morning show host for 107.3 KOOL FM in Victoria, and Q103.1 in Kelowna.
She was a recipient of the ”Morning Show of the Year” award at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards in 2013, and was a nominee for the Vancouver Island Top 20 Under 40 Business and Community Achievement Awards in 2013. Robin rode the 2010 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock as a media rider raising money for pediatric cancer research, and was a nominee for the 2016 National Philanthropy Awards in Victoria for Co-Founding and Co-Chairing the Cycle of Hope Society – a 5 year fundraising project that raised awareness and inspired hope in families living with ALS. Robin is the proud mama of Otis The Predicting Wonderdog. She loves living in Victoria and enjoys doing what she does every day – bringing JOY to the people, and trying to take over the world
