U of L hosts inaugural International Women’s Day Leadership Conference

“I think it’s important to share the full gamut of our story.”

Mathurin-Moe adds that a focus for her portfolio at the U of L is to create a safe and inclusive space for under-represented voices, something she hopes Wednesday’s conference will also achieve.

“This year’s conference is really about creating that space, for our members and our speakers to be able to tell their stories in their own unique ways,” she says.

@lethbridgenewsnow The University of Lethbridge hosts its inaugural International Women's Day Leadership Conference, March 13, 2024. Read more at LethbridgeNewsNow.com. #InternationalWomensDay #ULethbridge #Lethbridge #LNN #YQL ♬ original sound – Lethbridge News Now

Delivering keynote speeches are Manjit Minhas, the CEO of Minhas Breweries, Distillery and Winery and co-star of Dragons’ Den, and Lori Campbell, the associate vice-president of Indigenous Engagement at the University of Regina.

Tote bags handed out at the conference, March 13, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

Other speakers include Cyndi Bester, CEO of the Lethbridge and District Chamber of Commerce, kii Nitsikainaakii (Sunwoman) Annette Fox-Bruised Head, Indigenous Education Consultant at the U of L, CEO of Flexahopper Plastics Ltd. Adriana Mercader and Olutoyin (Toyin) Oyebola, co-founder of Genesis Exotic Market.

Bester says she feels privileged to be among a fantastic group of speakers.

She notes, “It shows such a strong step in strength of the women that we have here at the university, the women that we have in the city and those that we’re able to attract.”

“We want Lethbridge and the university and the [Lethbridge] college and our business industry to be fully aware that we can house, and we can create so many opportunities for women. It’s limitless,” Bester remarks.

She says this conference will be the first of many and it won’t be a ‘one-and-done’ event.

Setup for the conference in the Science Commons Atrium at the U of L, March 13, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

Mathurin-Moe shares Bester’s sentiments and hopes events like Wednesday’s conference can help bridge a gap between the university and wider community.

She remarks, “I think sometimes our campus is seen as an unknown space to people and we’re wanting to create that bridge for the community, so it’s the first of many to come and there’s going to be a lot of opportunities to partner with us, there’s going to be a lot of opportunities for other members of the community to attend as well.”

“The goal is to grow it beyond the university campus where we can actually do it in the community as well,” adds Mathurin-Moe.

She says the conference took over six months of planning and is thankful for everyone who helped to set it up. Mathurine-Moe is optimistic that all attendees and participants will leave the university campus with a smile on their face.

She remarks, “We want them to know that this was a space for them to feel like they were heard, they were inspired and they were challenged but also, they’ve walked away being uplifted after they’ve been here.”

The International Women’s Day Conference is at the U of L until 6:30 p.m. on March 13, 2024.

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by Justin Goulet

U of L hosts inaugural International Women’s Day Leadership Conference

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