For over 100 years, March 8 has marked International Women’s Day. On this day we celebrate the achievements of women and recommit to securing justice and equality for girls and women around the globe.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is, Break the Bias.

In this spirit of this theme, United Nurses of Alberta challenges Canadians to take action to create a world that is gender equal and free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

By choosing to challenge gender bias and inequality, inside and outside of the workplace, and celebrating the achievements of women, we can all help create a more inclusive society.

The origins of International Women’s Day have been traced to labour disputes in New York City in 1857 and 1908, in which workers protested the dangerous, overcrowded and exploitive working conditions of women in the garment industry. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 and, in 1977, the United Nations urged all countries to set aside a day to celebrate women’s rights.

The symbols of International Women’s Day are bread and roses – the bread representing women’s struggle for economic equality and the roses their women’s continuing efforts for a better quality of life.