This month there are several important dates that raise awareness of women’s issues.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Screening tests help find breast cancer before any symptoms develop. When breast cancer is found and treated early, the chances of successful treatment are better.
October is Women’s History Month
This is a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past, and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada. In 1992, the Government of Canada designated October as Women’s History Month, marking the beginning of an annual month-long celebration of the outstanding achievements of women and girls throughout Canada’s history. This year’s theme, #BecauseOfYou, celebrates women and girls in Canada who have made, and continue to make, a lasting impact on our country.
https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/whm-mhf/index-en.html
October 2 is International Day of Non-Violence
It’s the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/non-violence-day
National Family Week in Canada is October 5-11
The theme is “Stronger Together: Building Family Resilience”. Now more than ever we need to appreciate the people in our lives, build connections that last, and encourage resilience.
https://familiescanada.ca/article/national-family-week/
On this day – October 10, 2014
Pakistani girls’ education advocate, Malala Yousafzai, becomes the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17.
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2014/yousafzai/facts/
October 11 is International Day of the Girl Child
The world is home to more than 1.1 billion girls under age 18, who are poised to become the largest generation of female leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers the world has ever seen.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day
October 15 is International Day of Rural Women
Women and girls in rural areas suffer disproportionately from multi-dimensional poverty. While extreme poverty has declined globally, the world’s 1 billion people who continue to live in unacceptable conditions of poverty are heavily concentrated in rural areas.
https://www.un.org/en/events/ruralwomenday/
October 18 is Persons Day in Canada
It marks the day in 1929 when the historic decision to include women in the legal definition of “persons” was handed down by Canada’s highest court of appeal.
https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/whm-mhf/persons-personne-en.html
On this day – October 24, 1975
90% of Iceland’s women refused to work, cook or look after children. In Reykjavik, an estimated 25,000 women gathered to listen to speeches, sing and discuss matters – astonishing considering Iceland’s population was then just under 220,000.