On March 8th, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) and its Women in Niagara Council (WIN) will celebrate International Women’s Day at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, sponsored by Performance Auto Group and PenFinancial Credit Union. The event will be hosted by Niagara Casinos’ ncCommunity Giving Program. International Women’s Day is the date on which the world not only celebrates the achievements of women, but also focuses on breaking down the barriers faced by women in business, in politics, and in leadership.
The GNCC and WIN are proud to welcome keynote speaker Charmaine Crooks to Niagara for this event. Crooks is a five-time Canadian Olympian and Olympic silver medalist (athletics), Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.), entrepreneur, speaker, moderator and advocate for sport and athletes both in Canada and internationally.
Susan Venditti, Director of Start Me Up Niagara, will also be honoured with an award for her creation of the Out of the Cold program and her achievements as its leader. The award is richly deserved, not just for Ms. Venditti’s incredible and tireless leadership, but also for helping the homeless, unemployed, and those suffering from mental illness stay safe, warm and fed on cold winter nights.
The event also includes fundraising components. Firstly, a bursary is offered for an up-and-coming female leader in Niagara to attend the Leadership Niagara program. Secondly, guests will be asked to bring unopened menstrual hygiene products to the event in support of United Way’s Tampon Tuesday. Now in its third year in Niagara, Tampon Tuesday is an initiative that aims to collect menstrual hygiene to donate to local shelters and food banks. These products can be expensive and are often overlooked as donations to food banks and shelters. Socks for Change will also be onsite, collecting donations to provide warm wool socks and other winter gear to the less fortunate in our community.
For more information please visit iwd.gncc.ca.
Quotes:
“The vision of the GNCC is the region at its social and economic best. We are overjoyed to recognize the remarkable contributions to the social good of Niagara by honouring Susan Venditti, and to welcome Olympian Charmaine Crooks as a figurehead of sports and their role in a healthy and happy community.”
— Mishka Balsom, President & CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
“This is a time of incredible progress, change, and recognition for women, but also a reminder that we still have far to go. Our work through the GNCC has helped us take those few extra steps, and every International Women’s Day, we can not only take stock of how far we’ve come, but the journey ahead.”
— Nicole Regehr, WIN Chair & Community Development and Public Relations Manager, Gillian’s Place
“At Niagara Casinos we are committed to creating a positive, inclusive environment where all members of our team are supported to thrive and succeed. We are pleased to partner with the GNCC in bringing our community together to share conversations that matter and celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout the region.”
— Richard Taylor, President, Niagara Casinos
About GNCC
The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Niagara and the third-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,600 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.
About WIN
Women in Niagara is a business council of the GNCC made up of volunteers with the goal of fostering the growth and success of women in business in Niagara. They provide strategic and tactical direction to support the Council’s mission and strategic priorities. Responsibilities include identifying issues relevant to women in Niagara and providing strategic guidance to address these challenges and opportunities.
About ncCommunity
Niagara Casinos’ community giving program, ncCommunity, works to build a stronger Niagara by understanding and responding to those in need. The program’s outreach encompasses social improvement through sponsorships and donations, employee fundraising campaigns for United Way Niagara and their Sunshine Program where donations are made to local charities in recognition of employee volunteerism. For more information or request for support visit nccommunity.fallsviewcasinoresort.com.
About Fallsview Casino Resort
Overlooking the world-famous Horseshoe Falls, Fallsview Casino Resort is an award-winning resort that has been offering premier entertainment and superior guest service since 2004. Featuring a CAA Four-Diamond Hotel with 374 luxury rooms and suites, Fallsview Casino Resort houses large and impressive gaming floors with more than 3,000 slot machines and 130 gaming tables. Winner of the Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence and CAA/AAA’s Four-Diamond Award for its two signature restaurants, Ponte Vecchio and 21 Club Steak & Seafood, this vibrant resort property also features a full-service spa and fitness centre, a state-of-the-art 1,500-seat theatre, dozens of dining and shopping options and more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. For more information, visit fallsviewcasinoresort.com, follow Fallsview on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @fallsviewcasino, or call 1-888-325-5788.
