International Women's Day 2026

THIS MONTH IS ALL ABOUT WOMEN EMPOWERMENT!

Lifestyle | Local

Published March 1, 2026

By Logan Wright

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Every year on March 8th, we celebrate International Women's Day (IWD).

This day is a time to recognize and celebrate the many achievements of women and girls from all over the world socially, economically, culturally, and politically.

All Women, All Day on March 8

In celebration of International Women's Day, we'll be playing female artists only all day long on March 8.

Join us in honouring all the incredible women in our lives and from all over the world. The ones that raised us, taught us, helped shape us, fought for us, inspired us, and showed us the importance of gender equality, and the remaining work that we still need to do.

Local Events

March 6th from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM: The Barrie Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their Women in Business Awards at Liberty North with keynote speaker Dr. Béatrice Séguin. The event will recognize leaders in our community. (Be sure to keep an eye out for our very own Charlie and Amy Aust, who will be MCing the event!)

March 5th at 1:00 PM: The Women's & Children's Shelter of Barrie will be hosting a Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall.

March 8th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM: The Women & Children's Shelter of Barrie is hosting an Empowerment Luncheon.

Why We Celebrate International Women's Day

We celebrate International Women’s Day every year as a chance to celebrate the impact that women make around the world. But while people in countless countries partake in the day, not many know the origins of the international holiday and how it began.

When Did International Women's Day Begin

The first International Woman's Day was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, according to the BBC.

The lineage of the celebration can be traced back to 1908 when 15,000 female workers marched in New York City. They sought more humane working hours, better pay, and the right to vote. The Socialist Party of America would go on to declare the first National Woman’s Day in 1909.

Sometime after 1945, the name of the day changed from International "Woman's" Day to International "Women's" Day. And in 1975, the United Nations formally recognized and celebrated the event for the first time.

According to the official website, IWD is “a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.” The day honours the progress and achievements of women all over the world. But it's also a vehicle to raise awareness and encourage accelerated gender parity and fundraise for female-focused charities.

What Are The Official Colours Of International Women's Day?

The colours of IWD are purple, green, and white.

Purple symbolizes justice and dignity, while green represents hope and white represents purity. (The latter is considered controversial by some.) These three colours originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK in 1908.

What Is The 2026 International Women's Day Theme?

This year, International Women’s Day is celebrating the theme Give to Gain, centered on the idea that “When we give, we gain.” The campaign shines a spotlight on how generosity and support can help advance gender equality for women and girls everywhere.

The message is simple: anyone can make a difference. Whether it’s through mentoring, advocating, sharing knowledge, donating resources, or speaking out against bias, every contribution helps create opportunities and strengthen communities. Progress grows when we all invest in the success of women.