International Women’s Day calls for chocolate roses in Timmins

A 20-year-old tradition saw 1,500 chocolate roses delivered to women throughout Timmins and the surrounding area.

Ellevive and the Timmins and Area Women in Crisis Centre delivered 1,500 chocolate roses to women throughout the city and the surrounding area.

They began at Timmins City Hall, where Mayor Michelle Boileau proclaimed March 8 International Women’s Day in the city.

“It’s really a day to celebrate women and our resilience and our strength and what we’ve accomplished,” said Kim Nadeau, human resources manager at Timmins and Area Women in Crisis.

“I just wish for women today and every day, but especially today, that they can feel strong, that they can feel proud of themselves and that they can just, you know, take their place in society and keep fighting,” said Michelle Mailloux, executive director of Ellevive.

Mailloux said the day is important as women continue to battle unresolved issues.

“I mean, the fact that there’s still a lot of, you know, violence against women,” she said.

“We can fight for our rights and we can gain things, but then … it’s always put back on the table -- just for example, abortion (rights).”

The theme this year is ‘Accelerate Action,’ which calls for urgency in advancing gender equality. According to the World Economic Forum, at the current pace, achieving full gender parity may take five generations.