
Fri, Mar 05, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit everyone hard in one way or another. But with rain comes a rainbow, and perhaps... a pandemic Shero.
To celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, Ottawa Public Library is highlighting the women in our lives that are helping us get through the pandemic. So many women are making a positive impact in the communities in which we live, work and play. Whether they are frontline workers, teachers, authors, or small business owners, we want to showcase the contributions and stories of strong, intelligent and caring women.
International Women’s Day Author Visits (livestream)
In partnership with Ottawa International Writer’s Festival we will be hosting two authors, for International Women’s Day, in conversation about their new books:
-
On March 8 at 7:30pm, join Koa Beck, author of White Feminist, in conversation with CBC's Judy Trinh.
-
On March 15 at 7:30pm, Eden Robinson will discuss the newest release in her Trickster series, Return of the Trickster, in conversation with Karen McBride
And for the YA fans:
-
On March 16 at 7pm, YA author Jasmin Kaur will discuss her newest novel If I Tell You the Truth, moderated by author, Holly Bodger.
Pandemic Shero Celebration Panel (livestream)
To celebrate International Women's Day, we will be hosting a Pandemic Shero Panel on March 24 at 7 pm, featuring Canadian Sheros who will be discussing their pandemic experiences and how they are making a difference in their community.
Click here to watch this even on Facebook Live.
Panelists include:
-
Dr. Ojistoh Horn, an Indigenous physician practicing in Akwesasne near Cornwall, Ont. who works to educate Indigenous populations experiencing vaccine hesitancy through the Maad'ookiing Mshkiki | Sharing Medicine project;
-
Meghan White and Lauren Cauchy, founders of Period Packs, whose mission is to ensure that all Ottawa community members are able to access menstrual products.
-
Suzanne Obiorah, Director of Gender and Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations and Social Development at the City of Ottawa.
Just in case you can’t attend these livestreamed author visits, they will be recorded and available on our YouTube page afterwards.
Community Videos (Youtube)
We are featuring short videos from Pandemic Sheros in Ottawa on our Ottawa Public Library YouTube page. Meet neighbors who are making a difference in the pandemic, and learn about their struggles and triumphs, how the pandemic has shaped their work and daily life, what they have been doing to combat the pandemic blues, and of course, what they are reading.
Read and Discover
And finally, below you will find English and French booklists and video lists for kids, teen and adults, created by our very own OPL Shero colleagues, to continue the celebration of International Women’s Day.
Let’s celebrate women’s accomplishments during this difficult time and give a round of applause to all the women in our community.