On International Women’s Day, we thought it would be fitting to share a few examples of the significant contribution of women at the Canadian Red Cross.
Looking back throughout our history, women have always played an important role. During World War II and for years after, some 15,000 women were recruited to form the Canadian Red Cross Corps. Some of these women went overseas to assist in hospitals and even drove ambulances. Many others helped out from Canada by assembling food parcels that were sent overseas. You can read more about this fascinating part of Red Cross history.
Today, women are active as volunteers, staff members and international delegates. There’s even a society of women leaders and supporters of the Red Cross called the Tiffany Circle.
We want to highlight five of these exceptional women we’ve featured on the blog:
Bonnie Kearns is a volunteer and international delegate from Ontario who has supported our efforts in many different ways, from local disaster responses to working in our field hospital in Haiti.
Susan Johnson is the director general of International Operations at the Canadian Red Cross. She uses her extensive experience in humanitarian work to lead a team of staff and delegates who deliver Red Cross aid in countries affected by disasters and conflict.
Kiran Cheema is a young woman from British Columbia who volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross as an advocate of bullying prevention, raising awareness through presentations and short films.
Cathy Oakley is making a difference every day in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia while working in our community health program. She’s on the road delivering and setting up hospital beds in people’s homes.
Ethel Curry from Medicine Hat, Alberta recently celebrated her 99th birthday and received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Her volunteer work with the Red Cross began in war time and she hasn’t stopped since.
Thank you for everything you do!