6 Female-Forward Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is all about honouring the incredible social, political, economic and cultural achievements of women—and to remind us there’s still a long way to go before we have gender equality. What better way to do that than with a little laughter, eating and music? Here’s six ways to celebrate the fantastic female-identifying folk in your life this weekend. 

Women in Film Festival

Here in Vancouver, we love our film (it’s the third largest industry here in B.C., after all) and there are plenty of amazing and talented women here in the industry worth celebrating. Now in its 15th year, the festival welcomes features and shorts by women from around the world in a variety of categories. Expect workshops, pitch sessions, panel discussions, artist talks and plenty of screenings.

When: March 3-8
Where: Vancity Theatre
Cost: From $13 ($13 for single screening)
More Info: viwff.ca

IWD at Cypress Mountain

Grab a group of your favourite ladies and head to Cypress. $99 will get you a three-hour ladies-only Slope Sisters lesson, lift ticket and rental, a yoga class in the lodge and a flatbread appetizer from the Crazy Raven. Plus they have $5 bellinis, so if that doesn’t incentivize you to get your butt up the mountain, I don’t know what will. There’s also a cross-country ski clinic at 9:15 am and a snowshoe tour in the Nordic Area at 7 pm, all led by female instructors.

When: March 8
Where: Cypress Mountain
Cost: $99
More Info: Cypressmountain.com

IWD at MOA

Head to the Museum of Anthropology for an “intergenerational, intercultural celebration of women supporting women.” (read: an evening full of really great female artists sharing their work). The schedule promises an exciting lineup of dance, rap, song, poetry and more, with performances by the Vancouver Improvised Arts Society, Kathara Pilipino Indigenous Arts Collective Society and Chelsea D.E. Johnson and Friends.

 When: Thursday March 5 | 7 – 9 pm
Where: Museum of Anthropology, UBC
Cost: Free with museum admission
More Info: moa.ubc.ca

Dianne Reeves: Beleza Brazil

American Jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves is bringing a taste of Brazil to Vancouver this IWD. If you’re uncultured swine like me and don’t know who that is, you should probably change that—she’s won five Grammys, has an honorary doctorate in music from Juilliard and is a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master (the highest honour the US bestows on jazz artists). Long story short, she’s a jazz legend. This is her first full-length program dedicated entirely to Brazilian music, in advance of her album.

When: March 8 | 7 pm
Where: Chan Shun Concert Hall
Cost: From $46
More Info: chancentre.com

Burdock and Co.

A celebration isn’t a celebration without food: that’s my stance and I’ll stick with it until I die. Apparently Chef Andrea Carlson is with me because she’s hosting a brunch to celebrate women and champion gender equality and empowerment. Powerhouse Carlson will present a vegetable-forward farm-to-table menu that brings raw materials to the forefront. All guests will also get a signed copy of her new cookbook, Burdock and Co.: Poetic Recipes Inspired by Ocean, Land and Air.

When: March 8 | Seatings at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm
Where: Burdock & Co.
Cost: $54 per person
More Info: exploretock.com

International Women’s Day at Theatresports

For some serious laughing pains, head to Theatresports for their IWD improv show. An all-star, all-female cast of ensemble members, rookies and alumnae celebrates the integral role women have played in Theatresports’ 40-year history in an industry that hasn’t always been super accepting of ladies (I learned that from the The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). For Theatresport newbies, get there early for a drink overlooking the False Creek Marina at their in-house lounge.

When: March 8 | 7:30 pm
Where: The Improv Centre on Granville Island
Cost: $15.75
More info: vtsl.com