Downtown Montreal was filled with chants and banners on Sunday as many gathered to mark International Women’s Day.
The march began at Square Norman-Bethune near the Guy-Concordia metro station and wound through the city’s streets.
The demonstration, organized by Women of Diverse Origins (WDO), a collective of anti-imperialist women working across multiple sectors, highlighted issues affecting women locally and globally, including immigration, political repression, Indigenous rights, and economic inequality.
Dolores Chew, a founding member of WDO, said that while some gains have been made over the years, women still face challenges around pay equity, violence, and reproductive rights. “The times we’re living in today are just like this onslaught from every direction,” she said, noting the war in Iran and other global crises. “We can’t rest.”
Chew also criticized local policies she said undermine women’s rights. She highlighted recent restrictions on Muslim women wearing hijabs in the public sector and cuts to education and healthcare, which disproportionately affect women. “As a Quebecer, I’m really appalled at the attack on women and girls here. If you weara hijab now you can’t work in the public sector at all. So basically the government is saying — Minister Drainville said we’re giving them options, they have a choice, they can take it off — and it’s appalling,” she said.
She also noted the broader impact of austerity and attacks on unions, emphasizing that these measures directly affect women in heavily female-dominated sectors. “The attack on unions is happening because unions are really strong and they protect rights for workers and women to get decent wages, decent working conditions,” Chew said.
Norah Finlay, a member of WDO, said the event is a collaborative effort and stressed the importance of intersectionality. “Women’s Day isn’t just about women; it’s intersectionality, and that’s key when we have any discussions about this,” she said.
“I’m just hoping that we have this time to be on the streets, make our point clear, talk about how angry we are with what’s going on around the world and also at home with the austerity measures that we see being taken. I just wanted to be a place for us to express our rage and also celebrate together and come together,” she added.
Attendees said participating in the march is both a responsibility and a way to honor past struggles.
One woman, who had been unable to attend previous events due to family obligations, said, “I think it’s a duty for every woman, every feminist to come because we do have rights to still fight for. To this day, lots of women came before us and it’s still a struggle. In many countries, even here, we see a recule in our rights. Let’s say abortion — it’s still a very big fight all through Canada.”
Another attendee emphasized the urgency of remaining engaged locally and globally. “I think it is essential to question the impact of women’s role in society. Then I would say that with everything that is happening in the United States, with the regression of women’s rights, with the regression of minority rights, all minorities, I think it is extremely worrying,” she said.
The march also drew attention to global struggles. “I think that now more than ever, we need to take to the streets to remind people that this is not the kind of society we want. I mean, the place of women in Afghanistan, in Iran, and even in the United States,” said another participant.
WDO’s Facebook post highlighted the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day and emphasized solidarity with women worldwide, including those in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Indigenous communities.
The group denounced colonialism and global oppression while reaffirming the central role of women in workplaces, communities, and social movements.
Despite the serious themes, organizers said the day is also about celebration and hope. “It’s a sober time, but it’s also time to celebrate all the gains that women’s struggles have achieved and to not give up hope,” Chew said. “To quote Brecht, a famous poet, ‘in the dark times they will also be singing about the dark times.’ So that’s what we’re here to do today.”
The event culminated with a march through downtown Montreal, bringing together participants in a visible show of solidarity and determination, and reinforcing that women’s rights remain an ongoing struggle both at home and abroad.
