[Photograph of participants of the International Women's Day parade in Vancouver]

Photograph of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union participating in the International Women's Day parade which took place in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.).

The B.C. Government and Services Employees' Union is one of the largest and most diverse unions in British Columbia with over 90,000 members in 550 bargaining units in the public and private sector. They trace their beginnings back to the early 1900s when provincial government employees formed an association to address their working conditions. Since then, the union has organized thousands of workers outside the government service. About a third of the B.C. Government and Services Employees' Union membership works in the direct government service. Their jobs include protecting children and families, administering social assistance, managing natural resources, staffing provincial correctional facilities, fighting forest fires and providing the government's technical and clerical services.

International Women's Day (IWD) is a specific day dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide; celebrated annually on March 8, to honor the achievements of women across all aspects of life – social, economic, cultural, and political – while also advocating for gender equality. Originating from labor movements in the early 20th century, IWD has evolved into a globally recognized occasion marked by events, discussions, and initiatives advocating for inclusivity and equity. IWD was marked for the first time in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, on March 19, with more than one million women and men attending rallies.