2025 International Women's Day Workshop: Accelerate Action — A Journey Towards Gender Equity

Each year, the HSA Women’s Committee marks International Women’s Day with a workshop to explore issues impacting women in the union. This year’s workshop, themed “Accelerate Action,” is open to members who identify as women, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender diverse.

Date: March 6, 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm PST
Location: HSA Office – New Westminster

Explore the past, present, and future of the fight for gender equity and take steps toward meaningful change. Through a mix of storytelling, video presentations, and strategic visioning, attendees will leave feeling empowered to take meaningful action.

In a world where gender inequity continues to affect our lives, families, and workplaces, it is crucial to come together to address these pressing issues. This workshop will dive into the impact of gender inequity including in healthcare and how we can collectively organize to prioritize gender equity for all. By examining our history through an intersectional lens, we will uncover the struggles and triumphs that have shaped our current landscape. Together, we will recognize the ongoing challenges we face and envision a future where gender equity is at the forefront of our collective efforts.

Let’s spend the day building each other up, empowering one another, and strategizing how we can accelerate action for gender equity in our communities and beyond.

Facilitator’s Biography: Natasha Tony – Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Natasha works with labour unions and social justice groups to apply intersectional, human rights, and reconciliation lenses to organizational structures and processes. Her experience in mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution helps organizations as they move toward sustainable inclusion.

Prior to establishing Elevate Inclusion Strategies, Natasha worked as a Labour Relations Specialist for a film industry union. In recent years she developed the Inclusive Leadership and Inclusive Workplace Training Program for the film industry, and this training is delivered across Canada.

Natasha is a board member for both Black Women Film! Canada and Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She is a recipient of the Women in Film + TV Vancouver Spotlight Award and has been recognized as a Black leader by the Vancouver Economic Commission.

Participants must be able to attend the entire day.

As per HSA policy, wage replacement, travel, dependent care costs, and meal per diems will be provided. Participants must request time off from their employer once the union confirms workshop acceptance. If the workshop is on a scheduled workday, wage replacement will be provided. If the workshop is on a day off, participants are entitled to bank the time as paid union leave to be taken at a later date.

To register for this workshop log into My Events Registration using the prompts provided. Workshops are listed under Education events. Please select ‘create a login’ through the Event Registration and click on ‘here’ to receive your member ID by email or call the HSA office at 604-517-0994 or 1-800-663-6119 if you do not know your HSA member ID number.