Today marks International Women's Day, a time to celebrate the achievements — and the leadership — of women in Ontario and around the world, said Laurel Broten, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues.

“In Ontario, we are marking two important milestones for women this year — the 30th anniversary of the Ontario Women's Directorate and Ontario's first female premier. Both speak to the continual evolution in the role of women in Ontario society.”

As Minister Responsible for Women's Issues and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Broten said she met with female consuls general from around the world March 7 to talk about what they could learn from each other in the global effort to end violence against women.

“And today, I have the honour of celebrating women's achievements with the Federation of Muslim Women and OASIS Centre des Femmes.”

This year, the United Nations' theme for International Women's Day is 'A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.'

Closer to home, on an average month, some 100 women will show up on the doorstep of the Sudbury Women's Centre. They may be looking for legal advice, or they may be looking for crisis support. They may want to ask for advice on finding employment, or they may just need someone to talk to.

No matter what, the door is always open.

Kelly Sinclair, program administrator at the SWC, said the facility is a “central access point” for women who need help.

The list of services provided by the agency is long — however, much of their work is focused on helping women become financially independent and teaching women about violence prevention.

A $193,332 investment from the Ontario Women's Directorate, announced March 7 by Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci, will go a long way in helping the Women's Centre reach its goal.

“This funding will afford us the opportunity to continue offering much needed programs and services that focus on preventing violence against women and promoting women’s economic independence,” Sinclair said. “The programs are designed to provide women with the necessary support and long term skills required to make positive, effective change in their lives.”

Bartolucci said the investment will help build a stronger community.

“I am proud that the SWC is continuing to help women rebuild secure lives for themselves and their children,” he said.

He agreed the facility addresses “a very important need in our community.”

“I know this is going to be used well,” he said.

For more information of the SWC, visit sudburywomenscentre.com.

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.