NNSL file photo
On this International Women's Day, March 8, residents of Hay River will be able to make statements in favour of gender equality.
Dale Loutit, the recreation programmer with the Town of Hay River, has organized an activity under the international Balance for Better initiative.
"I'm going to do a selfie campaign," she said.
"The #BalanceforBetter is their hashtag campaign that they're having now and you can print off these selfie forms that have different #BalanceforBetter statements for International Women's Day," she explained. "So I'm going to print them off and hand them out at the Rec Centre."
People who post pictures of themselves on social media holding one of the statement cards – and with the hashtags #BalanceforBetter and #TownofHayRiver – will be entered in a draw to win a prize from the town.
The initiative started on March 4 and will run to March 8.
The selfie cards will proclaim things like:
- "I will help forge a more gender-balanced world.'
- 'I will challenge stereotypes and biases.'
- 'I will forge positive visibility of women.'
- 'We will influence the beliefs and actions of others.'
- 'We will celebrate women's achievements.'
Loutit noted that people can also have their pictures taken at the Rec Centre, where they also can enter the contest.
"If you don't have social media, we're asking that people come down and we take their picture with that sign," she said. "And, if we get their permission, to print it and put it on a wall with the banner International Women's Day for the week."
Loutit said both men and women are welcome to take selfies in support of International Women's Day.
She noted that people can also go to the website www.internationalwomensday.com and print off their own selfie cards to post a message on social media.
On March 8, food and coffee and tea will be available in the lobby of the Rec Centre to celebrate International Women's Day.
The United Nations adopted International Women's Day in 1975.