International Day of the Girl

Whistler’s Celebration of International Day of the Girl Encourages People to Speak Up!

Friday October 13, 2017

Rainbow Theatre, Whistler from 7:30 pm-10:00 pm

Tickets are $10 and available online at ticketzone.com/dayofthegirl 

In celebration of International Day of the Girl, three exceptional women will share stories that celebrate the power, creative voices, and unique place of girls in this world. Their stories challenge us to step up, speak out, and make a change. The event takes place at the Rainbow Theatre, inside the Whistler Conference Centre, on Friday, October 13 from 7:30-10pm.

This year’s speakers include Canadian Astronaut Candidate, pro-mountain biker, and 2017 Google Impact Challenge winner, Anita Naidu, cyberbullying survivor, youth advocate, and medical innovator, Vivian Tsang, and teen transgender activist and one of Vancouver’s 50 Most Influential People, Tru Wilson.

The event raises money for the Howe Sound Women’s Centre and One Horizon and includes a silent auction table where event-goers have the chance to bid on items from Lululemon, The Great Glass Elevator, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Blackcomb, and many more local partners.

Doors and silent auction table open at 7:30pm and talks start at 8pm sharp with MC Tara O’Doherty. For more information on the speakers and to follow the event for updates register for the event on Facebook: <https://www.facebook.com/events/125432844780165> https://www.facebook.com/events/125432844780165

 

Meet the Speakers

 

Anita Naidu: If Not You, Then Who?

Internationally recognized as a humanitarian, engineer and athlete, Whistlerite Anita Naidu is part of the three-member team that won the 2017 Google Impact Challenge for their technology innovation that improves the lives of millions of refugees worldwide. A 2016 Canadian Astronaut Candidate, all-mountain athlete, and investigative human rights filmmaker, her stories inspire young Canadians looking to make a difference. A decade ago, Naidu became the first sponsored female gravity athlete of East Indian descent and has coached hundreds of riders all over the world. She has spearheaded multiple international social advocacy projects which have taken her to remote corners of the planet. Her candid stories from the field are funny, hopeful, and richly thought-provoking.

 

Vivian Tsang: Speaking With Purpose

A medical student at UBC, Vivian hopes to dedicate her life to improving health care accessibility and reducing social inequalities for vulnerable population groups. She’s the founder, and Director, of the Humanitarian Organization for Providing Empowerment, Chairs the “Dream It Be It” girls program, is a mentor with the UBC Women in Science initiative, and is a Western Canada winner of the Violet Richardson Award. Vivian is involved in pediatric patient advocacy as the Team Lead of KidsCan at BC Children’s Hospital and sits on the International Children’s Advisory Network’s Board of Directors. She has been awarded the City of Vancouver’s Award of Excellence, UBC’s Premier and Wesbrook Scholarship, and was nominated as a YWCA Young Women of Distinction. Vivian is a WE Day speaker, TEDx presenter, and represented Canada in 2017 as one of eight young people selected in Canada for the WE are Canada150 Campaign.

 

Tru Wilson: Living My Truth

Tru first made headlines in 2014 when her family filed a human rights complaint against her local Catholic School for not supporting her gender transition. In response, the school became one of the first in North America to develop a policy to support gender expression. Since then Tru has been recognized by Vancouver Magazine as one of the city’s 50 most powerful and influential people and in 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau personally acknowledged Tru for her advocacy in his welcome speech to visiting Royals. In 2017 Tru was named “Sexual Health Champion” by Vancouver’s Options for Sexual Health. Tru shares her story to both educate and inspire others.

 

Background

A group of passionate volunteers has brought the Sea-to-Sky community together in Whistler to celebrate the United Nations-recognized International Day of the Girl each year since 2013. The four previous events each motivated and inspired a sold-out theatre of 250 people and collectively raised over $15,000 for charity partners – <http://hswc.ca/> Howe Sound Women’s Centre and <http://www.onehorizon.net/> One Horizon. Both organizations focus on the protection, education, and entrepreneurial support of girls and women and we are proud to partner with them again for 2017.

This event was made possible thanks to our supporting partner Community Futures Howe Sound, and community partners Tourism Whistler, Origin Design, Freeman Audio Visual, The Summit Lodge and Mountain FM, plus, the silent auction items donated by incredible businesses and individuals throughout the Sea to Sky.

Special thanks to the volunteer team that make this happen each year: Maja Ronneberger, Kevani Macdonald, Danielle Kristmanson, and Dee Raffo.