Gala to promote women’s rights

By: Naureen Ahmed

Rose Anguiano Hurst is the Executive Director of Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) posing for the photo.

 

The International Women’s Day gala held at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts  was celebrated in honour of all the amazing women in Windsor-Essex, said organizers.

The event was hosted by Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor and was meant to recognize the accomplishments achieved by women of the past, present and future.

This year’s event was  called Accelerate Gender Parity and over 400 guests were in attendance. The keynote speaker was the honourable Jean M. Augustine, who was the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons. She was elected in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore in 1993 and held a seat in parliament until 2006.

W.E.S.T. is a dynamic, community-based training organization which has been working to improve the employability of visible minority women in Windsor and Essex County since 1987.

Rose Anguiano Hurst, executive director of W.E.S.T., said she is grateful to all its past participants, local employers and other supporters that have demonstrated a belief in the W.E.S.T. mission.

“W.E.S.T. has been providing training to visible minority and immigrant women who are trying to champion their situational barriers and reach their employment goals,” Hurst said. “In this event, W.E.S.T. will recognize Journey Towards Success Award recipients.”

The recipients were  past W.E.S.T. participants, local employers and other supporters that have demonstrated a belief in their mission and continued to support women on their journeys toward success in our community.

Mona Stonefish, a community elder in the local Aboriginal community in Windsor was also attended the event. In her speech she said W.E.S.T. has been working to improve the employability of visible minority women in Windsor and Essex County.

 

Each year W.E.S.T. provides training and support to approximately 2,000 women and their families within the Windsor and Essex County area.

Anna Walls, one of the past participants of W.E.S.T. urged everyone to come forward and support the organization.

“W.E.S.T.’s International Women’s Day Gala is an opportunity to celebrate our participants, businesses and community partners within Windsor and Essex County,” said Walls. “It demonstrates a commitment to embracing diversity in our community.”

She said this event highlights the accomplishments achieved by women and advancing them further towards equality and gender parity in all aspects of life and work.
“All proceeds will assist WEST programs and services in providing training to women in Windsor & Essex County,” said Hurst.