Hon. Rona Ambrose, Lisa LaFlamme join festivities
TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Plan International Canada kicked off the sixth annual International Day of the Girl with a youth panel event at the Toronto Stock Exchange. Former Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose and Global Compact Network Canada President Helle Bank Jorgensen delivered remarks celebrating International Day of the Girl and the success of the #GirlsBelongHere initiative.
Nicole K., a 16-year-old #GirlsBelongHere participant from Winnipeg, Man., hosted proceedings alongside Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO of Plan International Canada, whose role she has assumed for the day. Nicole is one of a diverse group of young women from across Canada that have stepped into their dream jobs for a day through Plan International Canada's #GirlsBelongHere initiative. Their goal is to meaningfully illustrate every girl's right to realize her potential.
"On International Day of the Girl, we come together to highlight the key issues girls are facing and the incredible potential girls hold. It's key that we work collaboratively to break down the barriers they face," says Nicole K., Plan International Canada's acting President and CEO for the day.
"Girls are inherently powerful, but around the world, and here in Canada, they are so often denied the opportunity to be heard and realize their dreams," added Plan International Canada's President and CEO, Caroline Riseboro.
Lisa LaFlamme, Chief Anchor of CTV National News and Plan International Canada Celebrated Ambassador, moderated a panel discussion with four highly accomplished and passionate #GirlsBelongHere youth participants who stepped into a variety of high-profile positions including the Prime Minister of Canada, the CEO of Unilever Canada, the Business Development Lead at Snapchat, and a producer at Toronto's Breakfast Television. The four participants discussed the power of ambitious career aspirations and why it's important for girls to dream big.
The Canadian #GirlsBelongHere initiative is part of Plan International's global mass movement with more than 600 leadership roles being filled by girls in 60 countries.
Media assets, including photo and video resources, are available for download.
In Canada, there are many ways to celebrate International Day of the Girl:
- Join the conversation on social media using #GirlsBelongHere. For each use of the hashtag between October 9 to 11, Ardene will donate $1 to Plan International Canada's Because I am a Girl initiative.
- Visit monuments across the country that have been lit up in pink to celebrate International Day of the Girl, including:
- British Columbia: BC Legislative Building, Canada Place, Science World, BC Place, Olympic Cauldron Convention Centre, The Fitzsimmons Bridge, Village Gate Inuksuk, Town Plaza Gazebo
- Alberta: Alberta Legislature Building
- Manitoba: RBC Convention Centre
- Ontario: CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Nathan Phillips Square
- Nova Scotia: Halifax City Hall
- PEI: Charlottetown City Hall
- Download the #GirlsBelongHere toolkit on Plan International Canada's website on ways to show your support and mark the day.
- Urge political and economic leaders to do everything in their power to make gender equality a reality.
Join Plan International Canada's International Day of the Girl conversations online:
- #GirlsBelongHere | #DayoftheGirl
- Twitter: @plancanada | @biaagcanada
- Instagram: @plancanada | @biaagcan
- Facebook: Plan Canada | Because I am a Girl Canada
About International Day of the Girl
In 2009, Plan International Canada led an extensive two-year campaign that engaged thousands of Canadians in a call for an International Day of the Girl as part of Because I am a Girl, a global initiative to end gender inequality and recognize girls' rights as human rights. In December 2011, with unanimous all-party support, the Canadian government led the United Nations to officially declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl.
About Plan International Canada and the Because I am a Girl initiative
Founded in 1937, Plan International is one of the world's oldest and largest international development agencies, working in partnership with millions of people around the world to end global poverty. Not for profit, independent and inclusive of all faiths and cultures, Plan International strives for a just world that advances children's rights and equality for girls. Because I am a Girl is Plan International's global movement to transform power relations so that girls everywhere can learn, lead, decide and thrive.
Visit plancanada.ca and becauseiamagirl.ca for more information.
SOURCE Plan International Canada
For further information: Media contacts: Kyla Pearson, Plan International Canada, C: 647-459-7557 | kpearson@plancanada.ca; Katie Good, Hill + Knowlton Strategies, C: 416-413-4653 | katie.good@hkstrategies.ca
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