To mark International Women’s Day, this photo essay highlights a few of the many Canadian Latter-day Saint women who are contributing to their communities in meaningful ways. The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is “Inspire Inclusion.” We recognize the importance of women’s varied skills and talents and how they can be used to strengthen communities. Building stronger communities requires everyone’s best efforts, including the efforts of women.
DOWNLOADWomen communication representatives for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stand in front of the “Women Are Persons!” monument in Ottawa. Latter-day Saint women across the country are making a significant difference to foster the inclusion of women to build stronger communities.
Reyna I. Aburto, a former counsellor in the Relief Society General Presidency, said, “Every one of our paths is different, yet we walk them together. Our path is not about what we have done or where we have been; it is about where we are going and what we are becoming, in unity” With One Accord,” April 2018 general conference).
DOWNLOADSandra Pallin (right) of Toronto, Canada, and national director of communication for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is pictured here with Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combatting Islamophobia. Pallin helped organize Canadian Interfaith Conversation’s Our Whole Society conference at Martin Luther University College in Waterloo, Ontario, May 7–9, 2023. “Finding Common Ground in a Time of Polarization” was the theme of the conference, which brought together people from all sectors of society to explore the causes of division within our society and how to foster dialogue and justice and find common ground in Canadian civil society.
See “Latter-day Saints Participate in Interfaith Conference on Polarization in Canadian Society.”
DOWNLOADLiu LaFontaine (centre), local communication director for the Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, helped organize a JustServe Fair. The idea was conceived to give people of all faiths, cultures, ethnicities and economic backgrounds an opportunity to gather in support of Regina’s charitable organizations.
See “JustServe Fair a Community Unifier in Regina.”
DOWNLOADCyndi Hurtgen, previously a program coordinator of Special Olympics events, used the power of social media to recruit volunteers for the 2023 Special Olympics British Columbia Winter Games. Hurtgen used her Facebook page to recruit volunteers to help at the event, held in Kamloops, British Columbia, February 2–4, 2023.
See “Latter-day Saints Volunteer at the Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops.”
DOWNLOADSamantha Urano, a British Columbian lawyer, wife, mother and member of the Métis Nation, shared her views on the importance of Orange Shirt Day. She emphasized the importance of teaching children about Indigenous heritage.
See “What Orange Shirt Day Teaches Us About the Second Great Commandment to ‘Love One Another.’”
DOWNLOADSophia Lundy of Montreal, Quebec, is passionate about building a better world. She has forged a career in the construction industry and works with various non-profit organizations that support women.
See “International Women’s Day: How One Latter-day Saint Woman Is Building a Better World.”
DOWNLOADKath Murray (centre), a passionate nurse, educator, author, advocate, consultant and internationally respected leader in British Columbia, promotes excellence in end-of-life care. She is part of a team that engages in the important work of caring for those living with serious illnesses.
See “Canadian Latter-day Saint Kath Murray Recognized for Exceptional Contribution to Palliative Care.”
DOWNLOADChantelle McMullin (third woman from left), communication director for the Church in Edmonton, Alberta, is one of several women working with other faith leaders to support religious freedom. She said, “We want to bring people of all faiths together and to have them respect and honour other faiths, to understand other faiths, to open their minds to the goodness that’s in all people.” McMullin helped organize Religious Freedom 2023: A Community Conversation on April 16, 2023, when hundreds of people of different faiths gathered in Edmonton, Alberta, to discuss the unifying power of religions.
See “Edmonton Faith Leaders Discuss Unifying Power of Religions.”
DOWNLOADLatter-day Saint Women across central Alberta gathered to make pierogi, learn about Ukrainian culture and collect kitchen supplies for displaced Ukrainian refugees in April 2022. Latter-day Saints in Alberta assisted in several other ways, such as providing emergency arrival kits, clothing, household necessities and 500 arrival backpacks for children.
See “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Receives Humanitarian Award.”
DOWNLOADCindy Quinney (“Mihko asinîy iskwew”/“Red Stone Woman”) of Onion Lake Cree Nation helped as part of the organizing committee for the Cardston Gathering of Tribes, held September 15–16, 2023. She explained that the gathering was “to strengthen our communities, to bring people together to celebrate the gospel and their Indigenous heritage.”
See “Gathering of Tribes Held in Cardston, Alberta.”
For the past 20 years, Claudia Malloch (centre, as a child with her family) of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, has engaged in one of the most popular hobbies in the world — family history research. Malloch helps others with their family history research and was excited to share more information about Canada’s 1931 census when it was released on June 1, 2023.
See “What Family Stories Will You Find in the 1931 Canadian Census?”
DOWNLOADRachel Wagner Lemblé, executive director of the South Shore Literacy Council in Montreal, Quebec, is focussed on improving literacy in her community. Lemblé leads several programs in the Montreal area, including tutoring for adults, music literacy for children and classes for adult students with intellectual disabilities. Lemblé places great emphasis on the importance of extending literacy beyond just reading and to more than just children.
See “International Literacy Day: How Two Latter-day Saints Are Promoting Literacy in Canada.”
DOWNLOADClareena Lindsay of Montreal, Quebec, shared her knowledge and lived experience when she gave a presentation at the first Black History Month event held in the Montreal Quebec Mount Royal Stake in 2020. Lindsay focused on several Black members in Church history and the growth of the Church in Africa and the Caribbean.
See “Reflecting on Black Latter-day Saint History.”
Inspiring inclusion means valuing and supporting the skills, talents and contributions of all. Chieko N. Okazaki, former counsellor in the Relief Society General Presidency, once said, “Let us value everyone’s contributions. Let us not exclude a sister, whatever her life choices and whatever her circumstances. Let us express trust that she used both study and prayer in making her decisions, and provide a supportive environment in which she can carry out those decisions, evaluate them for their success, and modify them if necessary” (“Rowing Your Boat,” October 1994 general conference).
International Women’s Day, officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, celebrates women’s and girls’ achievements and raises awareness of the work that remains undone to ensure women’s equal participation in society. The Canadian government marks the day as one of “unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action” (“International Women’s Day,” canada.ca).