February 14 - Women's Memorial March

February 14th Women's Memorial Marches are held annually to honour women and girls who have been murdered or have gone missing in Canada. The first community march was held in 1991 in Vancouver, following the murder of a local indigenous woman in Vancouver's downtown Eastside. Since then, marches have been held annually across the country to call attention to the more than 1,100 murdered and missing indigenous women and girls reported in Canada since 1980.

March 8 – International Women's Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually across the world on March 8. The day commemorates and celebrates the contributions women have made around the globe and calls us to renew our pledge to accelerate gender parity across the country.

Nationally, it arose from the struggles that women faced at the turn of the century, when population growth and a change in working conditions saw many women in the workforce, facing long hours, minimum pay and no right to vote.

International Women's Day is marked with the thousands of events that occur to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women.

For more information on some of the events happening to celebrate International Women's Day, please visit www.internationalwomensday.com.

April 9 – Equal Pay Day

This day marks the additional months women have to work in order to earn the salary men make in one calendar year. In other words, the average Canadian woman will have to work three and a half months into the new year to earn what men do by December 31 of the previous year.

The gender wage gap is the reality for working women across the country. Women of colour, Indigenous women and women with disabilities face the worst gender wage gap. Thanks to the labour movement, this pay gap is already much less for women with unions, but income equality for all working women is the ultimate goal.

Equal Pay Day, April 9 across Canada, helps us raise awareness about the gender pay gap and how to close the gender pay gap for all working women.  Visit www.ufcw.ca/closingthegap for more information.

Fourth Week of September - Gender Equality Week

This week is an opportunity for people from coast to coast to coast to celebrate the progress we’ve made in advancing gender equality in Canada, while reflecting on the work that remains to make sure that everyone – regardless of their gender – can reach their full potential.

Gender Equality Week is the result of Bill C-309, the Gender Equality Week Act, which received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018. This legislation designates the fourth week in September as Gender Equality Week.

Throughout the week, show your support with the hashtag #EveryoneBenefits and share why gender equality is important to you. Visit for more information: https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/gew-ses/index-en.html.

October – Women's History Month

In 1992, October was proclaimed Women's History Month to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of women throughout Canadian history. October was chosen to coincide with anniversary of the Persons Case, which on October 18, 1929 – through the courage and determination of the Famous Five, the five Canadian women who launched the case – established once and for all that women were "persons" when the Privy Council overturned a Supreme Court of Canada decision and ruled that women were indeed persons, and could become Senators. The ruling not only opened the political doors for Canadian women. It also clearly asserted that women's equality rights in Canada were fundamental.

For additional information on the continued work to end gender inequities that continue to hold women and girls back visit https://www.leaf.ca/

October 4 – Sisters in Spirit Vigil

The Sisters in Spirit vigils honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It is also a day of support for families who have been tragically touched by the loss of a loved one to violence. Vigils take many forms; rallies, candle-light vigils, workshops, a moment of silence, a walk, or a gathering of people in solidarity to share memories.

For more information visit: https://www.nwac.ca/browse/

November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

November 25 to December 10 - The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Violence against women is the world's largest and most persistent human rights violation.  Over 50% of Canadian women will experience an incident of violence at some point in their lives, the majority before they turn 25.

We all have a role to play in preventing and addressing gender-based violence, which is why this year's 16 Days theme is #OurActionsMatter. Between November 25 and December 10, we encourage you to join the conversation and reflect on the concrete steps you can take to question, call out, and speak up against acts of gender-based violence.

 During this year's campaign: 

• On November 25 - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, join UFCW Wear purple on November 25 to raise awareness about gender-based violence.

• Add your voice to the growing chorus of survivors, advocates and partners and share what actions you are taking to end gender-based violence using the hashtag #OurActionsMatter #GenderEquality and #16days.

• Follow us @UFCWCanada, retweet @UFCWCanada @Women Canada or regramm @women canada femmes.

For more information on gender-based violence, click here.

For more information on sexual harassment, click here.

December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, also known informally as White Ribbon Day, is a day commemorated in Canada each December 6, the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, in which an armed student, Marc Lépine, murdered fourteen women and injured ten others in the name of "fighting feminism". Canadian flags on all federal buildings – including the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario – are flown at half-mast on December 6. Canadians are encouraged to observe a minute of silence on December 6 and to wear a white ribbon (or a purple ribbon) as a commitment to end violence against women.

For more information on violence against women and UFCW Canada materials click here.