New event celebrates every woman

A new festival will help local women celebrate International Women’s Day in March.

The Every Woman Festival, originally an Australian event, made the leap across the Pacific last year and has now landed in Alberta.

The signature event of the Every Woman Organization is held to celebrate International Women’s Day and to raise awareness and funds for local women’s charities.

The festival is coming to Edmonton for the first time on Wednesday, March 12, the day before it makes its repeat appearance in Calgary.

“There’s nothing of its kind here,” said chair Rowena Cui of St. Albert’s Planit Sound. “It’s great to be bringing an event that’s unique and that celebrates woman past, present and future.”

Cui said she attended the Canadian debut in Calgary last year and was thoroughly impressed by everything that went on.

“It was great!” she began. “It was inspiring. It was just a great celebration of International Women’s Day.”

The organization and the festival were created by Australian-born entertainer and musician Sophie Serafino. Everything is meant to be a celebration of women and to empower women.

“It’s a group of passionate and likeminded women who are dedicated to closing gaps between what we think we should be, what we’re told we should be and who we actually are,” Cui said. “I think we’ve come a long way from what feminism is in a traditional sense. Really, our goal is to cultivate inspiration and salute the women who are doing wonderful things in our communities.”

The event has a garden theme that’s called Blossoms and Bow Ties and it starts off with a champagne reception. Afterward, guests will enjoy a fashion show with celebrity models and local designers (put on by Western Canada Fashion Week).

There will also be a L'Oreal makeup booth for attendees. Local designer Cory Christopher Designs is set to create the interior décor. There will be food and beverages by The Petroleum Club, The Common, Glow Juicery, Veuve Clicquot and Transcend Coffee. Serafino herself will provide the live entertainment.

The whole event will be emceed by CTV Edmonton anchor Erin Isfeld and will also feature a silent auction.

There will be a keynote speech by Margaret-Ann Armour, the University of Alberta associate dean and scientist who was recently named one of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women.

Also on the lineup is local martial arts enthusiast Teena Lantz.

“I teach women’s self defence. I’ll be doing a lot of demonstrations on Aikido to give women the insight on how they can actually go about protecting themselves without trying to hurt someone.”

Aikido, she elaborated, uses “no muscle power, no force” so it’s suitable for any woman to learn.

All proceeds raised from the event will go to benefit WIN House, the local non-profit agency that operates three shelters for women who are fleeing domestic violence.

“It’s going to be a celebration of accomplishments of women,” Cui said, “and a showpiece of what’s possible when we work together in our communities.”