International Women’s Day Luncheon
Written by: WFWP Canada
The Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) Canada’s 19th International Women’s Day Luncheon Celebration was held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Crystal Grand Banquet Hall in Mississauga in collaboration with the Mississauga Monarch Lions Club. There were 70 people in attendance.
A panel of five outstanding women spoke on the theme of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women (CSW 69), “Accelerate Action for all Women and Girls: Empowerment, Equality and Rights,” including the Honorable Dr. Jean Augustine, Dame Linda Pinizzotto, Karlene A. Millwood, Erin Riley-Oettl and Alfredine Plourde.
The event was moderated by Lion Khalilah Megan Campbell and WFWP board member at large Eveline Stewart, bringing together both organizations. Several new members were inducted into the Lions Club including Rev. Stoyan and Lilly Tadin. The Global Women’s Peace Ambassador’s Award was given to Dame Linda Pinizotto and the Almas Jiwani Foundation awarded WFWP President Lilly Tadin for her outstanding contributions to promoting harmony across nations and advocating for the empowerment of women.
Over the afternoon of speeches intertwined with poetry and musical interludes, some very inspiring thoughts were shared:
“The fact that if women ruled the world, we would not have wars we would not have conflicts…because women think first of families, women think of communities and there’s all kinds of research that shows that money in a woman's hand…what it does for the family and for the community. It also shows that an educated woman…makes better decisions around a whole lot of issues, including spacing of the children, education of the children.” - Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine
“How every small act … in your everyday life can be a disruption and you can change and advance human rights.” - Erin Riley-Oettl, the Manager for Human Rights Law, Campaigns, and Advocacy and lawyer with a Masters in Public Policy
“…You can learn. It's that simple. You have to believe in yourself … listen to your heart and … your mind … it all comes together ... if you believe in something strong enough you're going to be able to move forward and accomplish an incredible amount of things, because of the things that you believe in.” - Dame Linda Pinizzotto knighted as a dame of the order of Saint George
“Encouraging women to be limitless … Today I stand before you as an individual with a personal story of struggle and triumph … my journey began with a simple and profound act of saying no. I grew up in a developing nation, shaped by the legacies of colonialism … and systematic inequality … that left a shadow on my identity … That realization was the beginning of my struggle to regain the authentic me, as a woman, to be treated with respect and to be valued for who I am.” - Karlene A. Millwood Founder, KMI | Management Consultant | Filmmaker|Author
In her concluding remarks, President Lilly Tadin reminded participants about WFWPI's vision, echoing Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s words: “The world of the future can be one of reconciliation and peace, but only if built on the maternal love and affection of women. The time has come for the true power of womanhood to save the world.”
She highlighted WFWPI’s 2024 achievements in advancing women’s empowerment and leadership through targeted initiatives, partnerships, and impactful programs. These efforts have created opportunities for women to overcome barriers, assume leadership roles, and drive transformative change.
Lilly then posed a question: “What are the voices of the next generation—the women of tomorrow?” She reminded participants to honor the achievements of past women who paved the way and emphasized that the future belongs to those who dare to dream even bigger. The younger generation, she noted, is pushing boundaries, offering fresh perspectives on gender equality, and integrating critical issues like climate change and digital rights.
