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Volume 54 Number 11
www.couriernews.ca
March 16, 2021
4 Wing Celebrates International Women’s Day CPL MICHAEL JUAREZ On March 8th, 2021 the Defence Women’s Advisory Organization of 4 Wing Cold Lake hosted a virtual event celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD). CAF members of all ranks, along with their family, joined the event to celebrate and acknowledge the impressive accomplishments of women around the world. International Women’s Day not only highlights women’s achievements but also brings awareness to the ongoing issues and challenges women face in their ongoing fight for equity and equality. Hosted by Corporal Emily Reiman and Nikita Proulx, the event featured three Honorary Colonels from the CAF who shared personal experiences and wisdom with attendees: Honorary Colonel Darlene Gates, 4 Wing, Honorary Colonel J’lyn Nye, 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, and Honorary Colonel Kristin Long, Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training. This year’s IWD theme was “Choose to Challenge.” This theme encourages people to challenge themselves and others to call out gender bias and inequality, seek out and celebrate women’s achievements, and create a more inclusive community for all. This powerful message was echoed by all three Honorary Colonels as they spoke about their lived experiences. As the Honorary Colonels shared their leadership experience within their
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4 Wing’s International Woman’s Day virtual session featured (top row L to R): HCol J’lyn Nye, HCol Darlene Gates, HCol Kristin Long; (bottom row L to R): Cpl Emily Reiman, Nikita Proulx, and Major Alexia Hannam. respective fields of work, a common theme emerged: teamwork is the pinnacle for success. Honorary Colonel Long expressed that “a leader will always be part of the team and should not be seen as a single unit.” On the topic of teamwork, Honorary Colonel Gates advised aspiring female leaders to look to their peers for inspiration; “they will be there to help motivate you to push through the self-doubt…” Following up, Honorary Colonel Nye quite simply put it to “find individuals who are on your level!” An important message, but one
explained by the Honorary “although you may not be there Colonels as meaning that the today, you learned to take that fight for equality does not step moving forward.” need to be fought by women Honorary Colonel Long alone, but rather by a team expressed the importance that of like-minded individuals “one should never apologize who share the same core for being a woman. Being a values and fight alongside each woman is not a roadblock, other. nor is it a disability. It is an For those women who may opportunity that brings a new question their capabilities or dynamic and diversity into a limitations “don’t look to others workplace.” Honorary Colonel for answers, be confident in Nye reinforced this sentiment yourself,” Honorary Colonel by telling women to “speak Gates says. She enlightened truth to power and stand up for the audience on the definition yourself and others.” of FAIL by changing the The words and emotions narrative to “First Attempts shared by the Honorary In Learning” explaining that Colonels on the evening of
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March 8th brings an end to this year’s International Women’s Day – but the fight continues. In support of this year’s IWD theme, the DWAO challenges everyone who reads this to call out gender bias and inequality in an effort to promote a more equitable workplace. For any further information with regards to DWAO 4 Wing Cold Lake please reach out to either Cpl Emily Reiman Emily.Reiman@ forces.gc.ca (Military CoChair) or Lisa Fisher Fisher. Lisa@cfmws.com (Civilian CoChair).