Melody Garner-Skiba delivering a speech at the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce's International Women's Day Breakfast, March 8, 2024. (Photo: Joanne Lohr, Pattison Media)

By Justin Goulet with files from Joanne Lohr

Lethbridge Chamber hosts International Women’s Day Breakfast

Mar 8, 2024 | 12:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Today marks International Women’s Day.

The initiative on March 8 celebrates the accomplishments of women and highlights topics like gender equality and reproductive rights, among others.

In Lethbridge, the local Chamber of Commerce hosted an International Women’s Day Breakfast at the ENMAX Centre.

The event featured remarks from Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas and a speech from Melody Garner-Skiba, the owner of Rocking Heart Ranch in Waterton.

Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas speaking at the International Women’s Day Breakfast hosted by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, March 8, 2024. (Photo: Joanne Lohr, Pattison Media)

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Garner-Skiba told Pattison Media that she aimed to inspire women, and anyone in attendance, to believe in themselves, take a leap of faith, “embrace change and own your power”.

She remarked, “It was just a really awesome way for me to tell my story and hopefully inspire others to not be scared to take chances.”

Garner-Skiba spent her childhood working alongside her father in Waterton Lake National Park. She graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Management. She has spent the last 23 years in different senior and executive leadership positions in various industries, including the nonprofit sector, hospitality, construction and as the executive director of the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers and president of the Canadian Sugar Beet Producers.

She has since switched her focus to being back at home full-time running her family ranch, which includes an equine breeding operation, agri-tourism and learning venture, and selling aggregate.

Garner-Skiba has also started a consulting firm, Garnering Results’, which focuses on offering services for different sectors, including agriculture, nonprofits and economic development. She is recipient of the 2023 AFSC (Agriculture Financial Services Corporation) Women in Ag award. Rocking Heart Ranch was also named the 2023 Canadian Quarter Horse Association Ranch Breeder of the Year under her direction.

When asked what International Women’s Day means to her, Garner-Skiba said, “It’s the day that the lens is finally on what women can do to make this world a better place.”

“Women have never been so needed in this world as they are today to help bridge the divide and to help build community.”

She continued, “I would love to see this almost every day because it gives us the freedom to really focus and talk about how we can make the world a better place.”

Garner-Skiba had high praise for the host Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce.

She said, “The Chamber of Commerce is one of the fundamental building blocks of anyone’s career in southern Alberta. I believe if you volunteer, you get connected, you meet people [and] you will make a difference in the business community, which will make a difference in peoples’ lives.”

Currently, Garner-Skiba is the president of the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association and was the president of the Chamber of Commerce in 2015-16.

READ MORE: Exceptional women to be celebrated in Lethbridge on Friday

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