International Women’s Day

See what’s happening at UBC

International Women’s Day takes place annually on March 8 to recognize and celebrate cis and trans women’s achievements, challenge biases, and reflect on and advance efforts towards greater gender equality. UBC is committed to gender equity and inclusion of all women. By challenging and calling out gender bias and inequality, we can all help create a more inclusive UBC.

Across research, education, and university services and student life, women at UBC are making a difference in the lives of others every day. Explore stories of achievement, events, and community resources. 

Read a statement from the AVP, Equity and Inclusion, honouring International Women’s Day.


Featured UBC Events

March 6, 2024 | 12:00 pm

International Women’s Day 2024: Aritzia CEO Jennifer Wong

This UBC Dialogues event showcases business leader Jennifer Wong (BA’91). Discover her remarkable rise from a shoe buyer at Aritzia to leading the Vancouver-based company as its CEO. Learn how she cultivates a culture of learning and creativity so you can encourage acceptance and belonging in your own workplace.

March 7, 2024 | 6:00 pm

UBC Trading Group’s Women in Finance

A panel of talented female professionals from various areas of the industry to speak on their experiences since graduation and to impart their advice to students searching for their next job in finance.

March 14, 2024 | 4:00 pm

2024 UBC Mental Health and Wellness for Women in STEM Conference

This conference will encourage collaboration across disciplines and experience levels, and it is open to everyone! Attendees are invited to learn, share and collaborate by providing the opportunity to engage with speakers during a panel session.

March 22, 2024 | 2:00 pm

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Dr. Shohini Ghose

This event welcomes Dr. Shohini Ghose, Professor of Physics & Computer Science at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, to UBC Vancouver as part of UBC’s IWD celebrations. Join for a book signing and talk.

April 4, 2024 | 4:30 pm

2024 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The 2024 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture will launch the inaugural event of an exciting new global speaker series on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity inclusion with an intersectional lens. Join Dr. Jan Hare, Dean pro tem, Faculty of Education, as she hosts transgender rights activist Kalki Subramaniam. 


Featured Community Events

March 5–9, 2024

Gender Equity in Media Festival (GEMFest)

GEMFest showcases a line-up of short and feature-length films across all genres: narrative, documentary, experimental and animation. The festival features works by both established and emerging women and gender diverse filmmakers from around the world, including a strong showing of films by Indigenous, local BC and Canadian filmmakers. The festival also offers a dynamic range of industry programming.

March 8, 2024

Girls and STEAM: Career Path Adventures on International Women’s Day

Explore the unexpected twists and turns that three local STEAM leaders have experienced along their career paths.




Are you in a UBC department or student group planning an International Women’s Day event?
Please connect with us to have your event considered for this page info.events@ubc.ca.