With International Women’s Day being celebrated on Sunday, Montrealers reflected on the women who inspire them and helped pave the way for future generations. From global icons to mothers and mentors, the influence of these women resonated across the city.
“First person that comes to mind, I think, is Coco Chanel,” said a Montreal woman. “Elegant, simple and hardworking I guess.”
For others, the inspiration came from family. “My mom. She just always worked when we were growing up and she always showed us that hard work pays off and I really appreciated that,” said another Montrealer. “Happy woman’s day. I love being a woman and I’m so happy to be part of such a wonderful community.”
Even the youngest Montrealers recognized the influence of women in their lives. “My mom…she’s always there for me when I need her. And well, she like plans activities if I like want to be with my friends and everything and she’s really nice and she’s everything for me,” said a young girl.
Some highlighted multiple maternal figures. “Too many, I have like three moms. So all of them adopted mom, birth mom, foster mom. They all had a huge impact on my life. You know, mothers, they’re maternal, they’re nurturing and they raise our children and really, we don’t appreciate them enough,” one woman said.
She also reflected on the power of femininity and supporting one another. “Femininity is such a powerful thing and it’s such a privilege to be a woman and it’s a little hard nowadays, right, in a patriarchal society but in general just believe in yourself, love yourself, support other women, that’s so important and yeah, we have a lot of power.”
For many, the most enduring inspiration came from their own mothers. “My mother of course, because she gave birth to me and she’s got a nice staple in my life the whole time.”
Across Montreal, International Women’s Day served as a reminder of the achievements, guidance, and enduring influence of women — from public icons to mothers, mentors, and community leaders who shape lives every day.
