21 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,M arch 3,2022 insidehalton.com Celebrating InternationalWomen's Day 2022 Women Inspiring Women International Women's Day is about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action. It asks all of us to strive for a gender-equal world by celebrating women's achievement, raising awareness against bias, and taking action for equity. This year's theme, Women Inspiring Women, celebrates all the women and girls who inspire by demonstrating leadership in the choices they make in their day-to-day lives to contribute to and advance social, economic, cultural, and political spheres. International Women's Day is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards achieving gender parity, as well as recognize the acts of strength and determination made by women who have played extraordinary roles in advancing gender equity in their communities, and around the world. The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equity and emancipation. And while we have come far, significant challenges remain. We cannot become complacent about gender equity, but instead commit to creating opportunities for women and girls to achieve and succeed by fostering systemic change and providing various forums for powerful female voices to be heard. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, women have faced job losses and reduced work hours, shouldered the majority of the additional unpaid care responsibilities at home, and continue to be on the front lines of the pandemic. The pandemic has been called a "she-cession," with women being disproportionately impacted, highlighting the need for safe, affordable childcare. Our government has delivered a $10 a day childcare to every Province and territory in Canada except Ontario. It's time for Ontario to come onboard now. This is feminist economic policy and smart economic policy that will increase Canada's GDP by 1.2%, allowing more women to return to the workforce. McKinsey Global Institute estimates that boosting women's participation in the workforce could add $150 billion to Canada's economy by 2026. Since International Women's Day in 2021, our government has announced that 237 projects will receive funding under the $100 million Feminist Response and Recovery Fund. This fund invests in projects that address systemic issues faced by vulnerable and underrepresented women - helping to ensure an inclusive recovery from the social and economic impacts of the pandemic. Every day, women are inspiring other women to participate fully and equally in economic, social, and political life and young girls are watching. Happy International Women's Day! Hon. Anita Anand Member of Parliament Oakville Pam Damoff Member of Parliament Oakville North-Burlington Women's DayI N T E R N AT I O N A L EMPOWER ING & CELEBRAT ING EVERY WOMAN • Accounting & Consulting • Audit and assurance • Charities and not-for-profit organizations • Corporate and Personal Tax 905-845-1965 www.capstickmccollum.com 2022202220222022 International Women's Day#BreakTheBias Warriors of Winter: Five women who wowed at this year's Olympic Games From mid-air collisions to COVID battles to break- ing barriers in sport, here are five female athletes who inspired and enthralled at this year's Winter Olympics in Beijing. Meryeta O'Dine -- Canada Meryeta O'Dine has faced her share of obstacles. Having been chosen to represent Canada in the 2018 Olympics' snowboard cross event, the British Columbia-born athlete's dream of competing was shattered when she suffered a concussion just days before the competition. Following a number of serious injuries as well as the devastating loss of her brother to cancer, she made a resilient return to this year's Winter Olympics where she earned two bronze medals for Canada -- but not before being crash-landed on by Italy's Caterina Carpano during the Olympic mixed snowboard cross team big final. Climbing her way back up the next jump with her board, O'Dine managed to finish the race and earned a bronze medal alongside her teammate Éliot Grondin. Claudia Pechstein -- Germany Only a few weeks shy of her 50th birthday, German speedskater Claudia Pechstein raced her way into the record books by becoming the oldest woman to compete at a Winter Olympics. Although she failed to make the podium in her two events (Women's Mass Start and Women's 3000 m) the nine-time Olympic medallist also assumed the title of the second athlete -- and the only woman ever -- to compete in eight Winter Games. Referring to herself in jest as "just a small old woman" to reporters following her last event, the Berlin-born skater and flag bearer for Germany at the Opening Ceremony is showing no signs of stopping. She told reporters that her sight's now set on qualifying for the World Cup in March. Eileen Gu -- China All eyes were on Eileen Gu this Winter Olympics as the San-Francisco-born athlete competed amid a controversial decision to represent China in her freestyle skiing event. Having made it clear that the move was a means to inspire the next generation of Chinese female athletes, Gu did so in spades by becoming the first action-sports athlete to win three medals at the same Winter Games. Two golds and one silver medal later, the Stanford University stu- dent (she happened to score a near-perfect 1580 on her SATs) now holds the additional record of young- est Olympic champion in freestyle skiing. Irene Wüst -- Netherlands Widely known as the reigning queen of speed skating, Irene Wüst of the Netherlands competed in her fifth (and final) Winter Games in Beijing, earn- ing her sixth career gold medal with yet another outstanding performance. Among a plethora of records smashed by Wüst in her astonishing career (she became the youngest Dutch athlete ever to win a gold medal during her 2006 Olympic debut) her win in this year's 1500 m event made Wüst the first athlete (male or female) to earn individual gold medals at five different Olympics: a feat that Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, cannot claim to have accomplished. Inspiration to come: Brittany Hudak -- Canada As the 2022 Winter Paralympics approach, we recommend keeping a close eye on Prince Albert's Brittany Hudak for your next dose of awe and inspi- ration. The 28-year-old youth and family support worker, who was born missing part of her left arm below the elbow, will be heading into her second Paralympic Games in the para nordic skiing event this March. Having been mentored by legendary Paralympian Colette Bourgonje, who approached Hudak 10 years ago while she was working a part- time shift at Canadian Tire, the athlete is favoured to take home a gold medal following an outstand- ing showing at the season opening World Cup in Canmore.