SYDNEY, N.S. — The legacy of the late Marjorie MacDonald will be centre stage during the 42nd annual International Women’s Day Concert in Sydney, as it is dedicated to the memory of the founding member and chair of the Every Woman’s Centre.
International Women’s Day is on Sunday, March 8. It is a day of recognition and celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls, and raising awareness of what remains to be done.
Locally, for 42 years women have gathered for an annual concert and celebration to mark the occasion, with a lineup of women performers.
“There are people that come to the concert that have been coming since the beginning,” said Wanda Earhart of Every Woman’s Centre in Sydney. “It’s just an automatic thing that people get together. They may come alone and meet people that maybe they haven’t seen since last year.”
This year’s concert is expected to be especially poignant, as it will include a tribute to MacDonald, who died in November. She was a social worker who, in addition to helping to found Every Woman’s Centre, also worked in addictions and other social justice issues involving women throughout her career.
“She often looked at International Women’s Day as her New Year’s because it was such an annual event where women came out to celebrate the advances of women,” Earhart said. “It was just a sisterhood gathering of women who came together, so she looked forward to it every year.
“It was very important that we hosted it.”
Local artist Cella Zahara was commissioned to create a portrait of MacDonald which will be on display at the concert.
“It’s just amazing, the likeness,” Earhart said.
It will be exhibited on a table with a book where people will be able to offer their remembrances of MacDonald and articulate what she meant to them.
“She was a mentor to a lot of people, being a social worker and a social worker teacher, lots of people in the community today who are working as social workers looked up to her so well,” Earhart said.
The entertainment lineup was put together by Maura Lee Morykot.
“We’ll have everything from dancers, singers, fiddlers, poetry, it’s a little bit of everything. Something for everyone,” Earhart said.
The origins of International Women’s Day trace back to the early 20th century, emerging from labour movements in North America and Europe and reflecting a growing movement for women to participate equally in society.
The concert takes place Sunday at Ashby Legion, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 waged; $5 unwaged. However, Earhart said those wanting to attend won’t be turned away due to inability to pay. The event is aged 19-plus.
