International Women’s Day 2021 – March 8

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day and we would like to give you a chance to read about this significant day and celebrate as a community…

2021 Campaign Theme
#ChooseToChallenge

A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.


International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality. 

Marked annually on March 8thInternational Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to:

  • celebrate women’s achievements
  • raise awareness about women’s equality
  • lobby for accelerated gender parity

Ever wonder what the world looked like in terms of women’s oppression and inequality and what women fought for…..

Explore the History of International Women’s Day


Help Celebrate Someone from our Community that Chose to Challenge…

Emma Dupuis

Emma has been a student at F.J. McElligott Secondary School in Mattawa for the past four years. Academics were not her only strength, athletics, school club activities, and volunteerism. You may have enjoyed some of her writing in local community newspapers.

Emma has recently been accepted to Queens University AND won the prestigious $36,000 Chancellor’s Scholarship!


So now, let’s hear from Emma…

First of all, how do you feel about winning this really wonderful Scholarship?

I was really excited to hear that I won this scholarship and that all of the effort that I’d put in the last four years paid off.

Can you explain what the Chancellor’s Scholarship from Queen’s University is?

First, to be eligible for the Chancellor’s scholarship I had to be nominated by my school. The process itself had many tiny parts I had to complete in my application. I had to fill out forms explaining awards I’d won, sports teams and other clubs I’d been involved in. I then had to write three short essays about my leadership roles and a volunteer experience that inspired me. Additionally, I had to demonstrate creative thinking through a creative piece that I sent in. I also had to get a reference from one of my teachers and send in my transcript.

Is the amount given out over the course of your studies?

The scholarship is divided equally over 4 years.

What is your choice of undergrad program and what are your future plans with that degree?

The undergraduate program I’m enrolled in is Health Sciences. Currently, I hope to either go into medical research or bioethics.

What challenges did you have during a year of virtual learning and in-school?

This school year was very interesting way to end my high school career. This year we were in an octomester model which meant that I had one class all day for a little over a month before I moved on to the next class. Last year virtual learning was definitely another learning curve but I hope that it will be beneficial in the future as the program I’m in works in a flipped classroom model (this means that I read modules online before attending classes where the focus is application and discussion).

Any advice you can give to other students ?

Start setting goals, break tasks down into many small, manageable pieces. Many scholarships require you to have a list of all of your accomplishments, so keep a record of things you’ve done.  Often major scholarships are looking for well rounded applications who have been dedicated to school, sports, clubs and community involvement and have managed to maintain a high average.


Congratulations Emma!


#ChooseToChallenge

Individuals and organizations are invited to send in their #ChooseToChallenge images to share with our community. We will post them on this website.

A special shout out to the young people in our community, hand up high to show you’re in …

Will you #ChooseToChallenge?

Please submit images to info@mattawamuseum.ca

Graciously hosted by : MikeyPC

© 2019 Mattawa & District Historical Society
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