International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8, and Humber Polytechnic has organized a series of events that will mark the day that recognizes and celebrates women across the world while calling for an acceleration of gender parity. 

The theme for IWD 2026 is Give to Gain, which emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. 

The “Women’s Empowerment Network: Reinvesting in Self. Building Connection. Cultivating Brilliance” event takes place March 4 at North Campus and invites the Humber and University of Guelph-Humber community to come together for a day of learning, reflection and connection. 

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality, the event centres building connection as a pathway to building brilliance – creating space for shared insight, dialogue and collective growth across roles, experiences and identities.   

Aisha Saintiche will deliver the keynote address - Reinvesting in Self: Reclaiming Power, Wellness, and Worth. It offers a reframing of empowerment - moving beyond hustle, sacrifice and constant output toward reinvestment as an intentional act of wellness, leadership and self-trust. Rooted in lived experience, trauma-informed practice and systems-level insight, the session challenges the narrative that impact requires depletion.  

Those interested in attending are asked to register in advance. 

The Network is also introducing Community Learning Circles this year. They’re facilitated spaces for connection, dialogue and collective sense-making and these informal participatory sessions centre lived experience and shared reflection, inviting participants to learn with and from one another through thoughtful, practice-grounded conversation.  

They include: 

• Wellness in the Workplace led by Stephanie Boachie and Jacqueline Morgan. 

• Building Your Brand led by Emily Milic. 

• Mentorship and Growth led by Melanie Chai.  

• Beyond the Supermom Myth: Designing Our Own Success Stories led by Anna Rekhviashvili.  

• Allyship for Women in the Workplace led by Shaun Carson and Ian Crookshank. 

The Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology is hosting its third annual Championing Women in STEM event on Thursday, March 5 at the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation. It’s a luncheon and panel discussion with women who will share their authentic stories and whether through knowledge, advocacy, education, training, or mentoring, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world. A group of 75 high school students will also attend. 

Speakers include:  

• Humber Faculty Weijing Ma, Ph.D., P.Eng., a professor in the Bachelor of Engineering – Mechatronics program and program coordinator with the Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering program. 

• Natalia Malafeeva, P.Eng., director, Higher Education & Sustainability with Siemens Canada. 

• Shanell Roye, B.Eng., C. Tech., a Humber graduate employed as a Civil Technician II with AECOM. 

• Navjot Kaur, a Bachelor of Engineering – Information Systems Engineering student at Humber. 

• Janice Wojcik, BASc., manager, Work Integrated Learning & Co-op at Humber, will serve as the moderator. 

The event runs from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Polytainers Atrium. 

The University of Guelph-Humber is hosting the third annual GH Women of Distinction Recognition event on March 5 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Guelph-Humber Atrium. It highlights unique, positive, and meaningful contributions from several nominees who have been carefully considered and chosen by a selection committee.  

More information can be found on the event webpage.