Every year we look forward to March 8 as a day to celebrate women and girls in sport. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge – a call to action for all of us to think about how we can challenge inequity in our work and day-to-day lives.

This is an extra special year, as it also happens to be our organization’s 40^th anniversary. Since 1981, we’ve been working with sport leaders like you to build better sport through gender equity. This year, we’re asking you to keep this momentum going by creating return to sport plans that ensure women and girls get what they need to keep participating.

We know that many of you are longtime champions for change, and we want to celebrate that work by hearing from inspiring leaders in the system who are challenging the status quo. Here are a few ways you can celebrate with us this week:

• Share your vision for a gender equitable sport recovery and help us inform our work and advocacy.
• Join us and CBC Sports for a discussion at 2:15 PM ET today with Krystina Alogbo, Chantal Vallée, Adam Van Koeverden, and Cynthia Appiah about what inequities they’re passionate about challenging in sport. There will be a simultaneous discussion in French with Marie-Eve Marleau, Cindy Ouellet, Marie-Andrée Lessard, and Lauriane Rougeau.
• Catch our panel with She’s 4 Sports this Wednesday at 6:00 PM ET. She’s 4 Sports Founder Ainka Jess will chat with our panelists Jennifer King, Jocelyne Larocque, Jennifer Reynolds, and Fitriya Mohamed about their sport journeys and how they’re using their platforms to drive change.
• Check out this video message from the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister for Canadian Heritage, who shares his thoughts on the importance of an equitable return to sport.

And while you’re here…

• On #IWD2021, the rights of trans girls in sport are under attack. We have work to do to as a sport system to ensure trans women and girls are welcome and safe. Learn more about how to create safe sport environments for queer and trans people.
• There’s still time to submit a proposal to be our new Research and Consulting Partner as we embark on our journey to better understanding the experiences of nonbinary people in sport. Apply before March 15.
• We’re proud to launch our new guide for sport and physical activity practitioners on how to better engage newcomer women and girls in sport. This handbook is the result of a 3-year project funded by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada where we worked with 20 partners across the country to run physical activity programs for over 4000 newcomer women and girls.

Thanks for reading, and happy International Women’s Day!