International Women's Day (IWD) has occurred for over a century with the first gathering held in 1911. The day reflects on and celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.

Marked annually on March 8th, International Women's Day (IWD) is an important day to:

• Celebrate women's achievements
• Raise awareness about discrimination
• Take action to drive gender parity

Get Involved!

Nominate a Brantford woman for International Women's Day

Help us recognize the accomplishments and contributions of amazing women in our community. We want to showcase examples of leadership, achievement, positive change and hard work. Nominees will be recognized as part of the City of Brantford's IWD campaign and recognized at Council in 2023. Submit your nomination today. 

Share your stories

Do you have a women's achievement story to share about yourself or a woman in your life? Submit your story to help inspire your community. Review #TeamBrantford stories below.

Share your ideas

Share your input on how the City of Brantford can better support gender equality in our community and help us make meaningful change. Submit your idea today. 

#TeamBrantford Stories 

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we also asked some of the amazing women of the City of Brantford to share their experiences and advice to inspire the men and women of Brantford to share your stories. Here’s what we heard:

“Becoming a new Councillor is like giving birth. It requires mental strength and long hours. You spend many hours reading and learning about what to expect but nothing really prepares you. At times, you might not feel as though you can’t get through it. It hurts. Just breathe. When you see the results of your ‘labours’ – that you can make a meaningful difference in the life of another, you know it’s worth it and you’d do it all over again. I am incredibly grateful to the men and women who brought me here and lift me up every day.”

Mary Musson Mary Musson – Manager, Housing Programs 

“I am so fortunate to have had many opportunities throughout my working career where I had the space to be my authentic self and to excel to the best of my abilities. The common theme in all situations has been good leadership and an open culture. Good leaders bring out the best in all of us and encourage us to continue to grow as individuals and feel our value within the team. An open culture supports this growth by encouraging people to engage in broad inquiry, to think critically, and to venture and debate new ideas in the interests of contributing to collective effectiveness. Don’t compare yourself to others. Doing so is natural because we are often socialized to be competitive but this only causes stress. Make space for others, especially other professional women. Allow yourself to make mistakes and reframe them as learning opportunities.”

Jennifer Elliot

Jennifer Elliot - Director, Engineering Services

"From my parents and sister, to my children and their Dad, my first and strongest supporters are my family. The most difficult moments are the internal struggles: be strong but not harsh, empathetic but not emotional, speak strongly but don’t be perceived as nagging. Personal internal training has helped me work towards overcoming this challenge and allowing myself time to decompress. My hope for our sons and daughters is that we normalize the word equality and that we teach our daughters to realize and embrace their strength and potential to become strong and fierce leaders. I strive every day to ensure my colleagues understand their value and are lifted to know their potential."