Advertisement

Hundreds turnout for Regina’s third annual Women’s March

Click to play video: 'Hundreds turn out for Regina’s third annual Women’s March'
Hundreds turn out for Regina’s third annual Women’s March
WATCH: The intense cold didn't stop these women and allies from marching for equality – Jan 18, 2020

Women, allies and feminists marched in downtown Regina on Saturday making a statement that they’re willing to fight for equality for all.

Regina joined hundreds of other cities across the globe for the fourth annual Women’s March, which began in Washington, D.C., in 2016 following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

In Regina, the event has been held the past three years and continues to grow each year, say organizers.

“We’re all out here with our own messages that will bring change,” said Barb Byers, board member of the YWCA who helped organize this year’s march.

Women marched with homemade signs in downtown Regina on Saturday. Allison Bamford / Global News

For transgender woman Cat Haines, that means fighting for better mental health supports throughout the province and reclaiming space for transgender people.

Story continues below advertisement

“It’s really important to come together as a community and raise our voices together, and really share in that space and learn from each other,” Haines said.

One marcher holds up a sign reading, “Affordable housing is a feminism issue”. Allison Bamford / Global News

Stephanie Korol attended the event to remind people that feminism goes beyond equality of sexes.

She marched with a homemade sign criticizing “Make Women Great Again”, a male-led conference that rejects feminism and teaches women to “become more feminine.”

“They’re kind of telling me how to behave, and how to act,” Korol said. “Women were great, and still are great.”

“No more stolen sisters” refers to the amount of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. Allison Bamford / Global News

Marcher Kat Mazenc said it’s important to remember feminism is about fighting for marginalized groups, equality for LGBTQ communities and rights for newcomers to Canada.

Story continues below advertisement

“There are a lot of different groups who still need people to use their platform to stand up,” Mazenc said.

Denita Wahpoosewyan, who attended her first Women’s March on Saturday, said change is needed for people to heal.

The annual march was attended by women, allies and feminists. Allison Bamford / Global News

“As an Indigenous woman, I believe women are going to help lead the way in our community for healing, and to help our families and help our communities to get healthy,” Wahpoosewyan said.

She said she understands the importance of her voice.

Despite the weather being -30 C, Regina marchers still showed up in record numbers, say organizers. “People have fought through worse,” said Stephanie Korol, who marched on Saturday. Allison Bamford / Global News

“I feel the need to speak out for the missing and murdered women all across Turtle Island,” Whapoosewyan said. “We should be doing something about that, create awareness so we can start helping families with the healing, and create awareness to put a stop to that.”

Story continues below advertisement

For many, the fight for equality will never end.

“I hope people use this [march] as a way to get excited about feminism, women’s rights and carry that momentum forward into their own lives,” Haines.

“We’ll always be fighting for equality — it’s a conversation that should never stop.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices