Virtual Women's March in Regina spreads message of empowerment
© Provided by Leader Post From left, Krystal Kolodziejak, her husband Nathan Brenner walking dog Jeter, and her sister Adynea Russell walk together
Bundled up against the cold, Krystal Kolodziejak took to Wascana Centre on Saturday morning armed with a red sign that read “Nevertheless, she persisted.”
With only her husband and sister walking beside her, this year’s annual Women’s March in Regina was not quite the same previous years, where Kolodziejak had crowds of others marching with her.
Kolodziejak was part of hundreds of thousands of women who marched on Washington, D.C. in 2017, after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president of the United States. It was after returning to Regina from that event that she knew the message of empowerment was one she wanted to see carried to the Queen City.
She began reaching out to local organizations and soon found a partner in YWCA Regina.
This year marks the fifth year YWCA Regina has hosted the city’s annual Women’s March, which is aligned with the international movement Women’s March Canada. The movement seeks to empower women and stand up for human rights and social justice.
While the march normally takes place in downtown Regina, this year it moved online to abide by public health guidelines
Bundled up against the cold, Krystal Kolodziejak took to Wascana Centre on Saturday morning armed with a red sign that read “Nevertheless, she persisted.”
With only her husband and sister walking beside her, this year’s annual Women’s March in Regina was not quite the same previous years, where Kolodziejak had crowds of others marching with her.
Kolodziejak was part of hundreds of thousands of women who marched on Washington, D.C. in 2017, after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president of the United States. It was after returning to Regina from that event that she knew the message of empowerment was one she wanted to see carried to the Queen City.
She began reaching out to local organizations and soon found a partner in YWCA Regina.
This year marks the fifth year YWCA Regina has hosted the city’s annual Women’s March, which is aligned with the international movement Women’s March Canada. The movement seeks to empower women and stand up for human rights and social justice.
While the march normally takes place in downtown Regina, this year it moved online to abide by public health guidelines
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© BRANDON HARDER From left, Krystal Kolodziejak, her husband Nathan Brenner walking dog Jeter, and her sister Adynea Russell walk together as part of a “virtual” Women’s March at Wascana Park in Regina, Saskatchewan on Jan. 16, 2020. Those wanting to participate in the annual march this year were asked to walk in their own neighbourhoods, as a group gathering was not possible due to COVID-19.
Despite not being able to march together this year because of the pandemic, Kolodziejak — who is a member of the event’s organizing committee — hopes the same message of empowerment comes through, which she said is as relevant as ever.
“The issues that women continue to struggle with are still there and unfortunately, with the pandemic, a lot of them are amplified even more, so recently there’s been a few reports that have been shared talking about the impacts of domestic violence and how it’s gotten even worse,” she said, pointing to other recent social movements like Black Lives Matter to highlight how much of a difference gathering their voices together can make in the fight against inequality.
“It’s even more important right now to continue to raise awareness about what a lot of women in Saskatchewan are experiencing.”
Kolodziejak said Regina residents were asked to walk in their neighbourhood with only the people already in their bubble. She anticipated around 400 people were taking part across the city on Saturday.
Participants in the Women’s March were asked to create posters with their own messages of empowerment written on them and to share photos of their walk on social media with the hashtag #ForwardTogether.
“Collectively, we’re really trying to show that women’s right are human rights and trying to advance that overall,” she said.
Despite not being able to march together this year because of the pandemic, Kolodziejak — who is a member of the event’s organizing committee — hopes the same message of empowerment comes through, which she said is as relevant as ever.
“The issues that women continue to struggle with are still there and unfortunately, with the pandemic, a lot of them are amplified even more, so recently there’s been a few reports that have been shared talking about the impacts of domestic violence and how it’s gotten even worse,” she said, pointing to other recent social movements like Black Lives Matter to highlight how much of a difference gathering their voices together can make in the fight against inequality.
“It’s even more important right now to continue to raise awareness about what a lot of women in Saskatchewan are experiencing.”
Kolodziejak said Regina residents were asked to walk in their neighbourhood with only the people already in their bubble. She anticipated around 400 people were taking part across the city on Saturday.
Participants in the Women’s March were asked to create posters with their own messages of empowerment written on them and to share photos of their walk on social media with the hashtag #ForwardTogether.
“Collectively, we’re really trying to show that women’s right are human rights and trying to advance that overall,” she said.
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