On March 8th, 2022, London Small Business Centre, Women in Communications and Technology, TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario, London Economic Development Corporation, and the London Chamber of Commerce will come together to present Smashing Barriers — Breaking and Building for Everyone, an event that promotes and celebrates International Women’s Day. This year’s virtual event will feature keynote speaker, HR Specialist, thought leader, and Founder and CEO of Bloom, Avery Francis. The keynote will be themed in alignment with International Women’s Day 2022, #Breakthebias, highlighting opportunities to break bias and unite to consciously create change.
Members of the community are invited to gather with us online as we collectively imagine a world that is gender equal, free of stereotypes and discrimination, and where difference is valued and celebrated.
Join us to hear Avery speak on the topic of #BreakTheBias in all aspects of work, school, community, and life – across all sectors.
Great strides have been made since the inception of International Women’s Day in 1909, but the work is just beginning. This day marks a moment to reflect on triumphs, celebrate the power, acknowledge the shortcomings and plan for strategies of change as we revere women. The International Women’s Day 2022 theme, #BreakTheBias, captures what we embrace and work to emulate each and every day in our lives, work and community.
Smashing Barriers — Breaking and Building for Everyone
March 8, 2022, 4:00PM
Tickets $10
Virtual Event
To purchase tickets and learn more, go to https://smashingbarriers_2022.eventbrite.ca
Words from Partners
“International Women’s Day is more than an opportunity to celebrate women. We celebrate equality, and we take steps forward for a brighter future for our community – a future that inspires frontrunners, go-getters, and leaders in every generation. In welcoming Avery Francis, we create new spaces for vulnerable and necessary conversations about making impactful change in the work and life of women. We welcome bold ideas and game-changing action to our innovation community and bring attention to the importance of breaking the bias, making lasting change, and having truly sustainable outcomes in Southwestern Ontario’s innovation ecosystem.”
Christina Fox
Chief Executive Officer, TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario
“Women in Communications and Technology has been dedicated to the advancement of women in the communications, digital, and creative ecosystems in Canada for more than three decades. It is the honour of the London chapter of WCT to partner with Tech Alliance for our second year in Smashing Barriers. This International Women’s Day, we are thrilled to also be joined by the London Economic Development Corporation, The London Small Business Centre, and The London Chamber of Commerce in presenting what is sure to be a high-impact event. It can be said that we have come a long way toward gender parity, but there is still much more road to travel when it comes to dismantling the infrastructure of inequality-reinforcing biases. HR thought leader and diversity champion, Avery Francis, will join us as keynote speaker this International Women’s Day, tearing into the foundations of inequality and challenging us all to reframe, to #BreakTheBias.”
Meghan Newman
Co-Chair, Events, Women in Communications and Technology London Board of Directors
“The London Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with other business organizations in support of International Women’s Day. Women workers and entrepreneurs are among the groups that have been disproportionately adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, recovery programs which do not pay particular attention to issues faced by women in the aftermath of the pandemic will not be effective. Moreover, a return to the pre-pandemic status quo is not a measure of success. We have to do better. We must break the bias and achieve a more equitable, diverse and inclusive community. Events such as Smashing Barriers are critical to achieving these goals and the London Chamber is proud to be a partner.”
Graham Henderson
Chief Executive Officer, London Chamber of Commerce
“We recognize the barriers and additional challenges women can face when starting a business, and we want to support them on their entrepreneurial journey. More than 63% of our clients are women, and recent growth in women-led businesses has been encouraging. However, we know that women are still underrepresented in many industries, which is why we are committed to working together with other organizations in London to evolve as an inclusive community and build solutions to overcome the bias.”
Steve Pellarin
Executive Director, London Small Business Centre
“Supporting and celebrating women’s equality and accomplishments is a year-round responsibility. I’m proud to be partnering with community organizations to celebrate the tremendous efforts made by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future.”
Kapil Lakhotia
President & CEO, London Economic Development Corporation