Montreal, January 25th, 2016 – On February 11, 2016, Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education will host its annual gala in support of its work empowering children, youth and women to be positive agents of change in their communities through education and leadership training. The event will take place at the Rialto Theatre, 5723 Parc Avenue in Montreal, from 7-11pm.
This year, the event focuses on the themes of diversity, inclusion and the right to identity, with guest speaker Ala’a Jarban, Equitas alumnus and human rights activist from Yemen working on social justice and LGBTQI issues (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex.) The conversation will be moderated by CTV Montreal’s Caroline Van Vlaardingen.
“The Equitas Montreal Gala is a unique opportunity to celebrate the inspiring people and organizations that work every day to build safer and more equitable communities,” says Equitas Executive Director Ian Hamilton. “In a world where extremists increasingly grab headlines, Equitas and its partners work both at the front lines and behind the scene to promote the practice of equality, social justice and respect for human dignity.”
Last year, the event raised over $100,000 and drew a crowd of socially engaged professionals, including prominent supporters of Equitas from government such as Kathleen Weil, Quebec Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness, as well as leaders from the business, nonprofit, academic and professional communities. Some previous guest speakers who have supported Equitas events include Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Phil Fontaine, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, and the Rt. Hon Michaëlle Jean.
What: Equitas Gala – Right(s) Before Your Eyes When: Thursday February 11, 2016 – 7-11pm Where: Rialto Theatre, 5723 Parc Avenue, Montréal
Celebrated annually in February, proceeds and donations from the Equitas Gala go to support Equitas’ work in communities in Canada, Africa, South Asia, Latin America and The Caribbean, the Middle East and Northern Africa. Equitas thanks its amazing sponsors and donors for their generous support of the Gala and of our work all year round. We thank TD Bank Group, Lead Sponsor and longtime supporter of our Play it Fair! program nationally; Gold Sponsor CGI; Silver Sponsors Air Canada, Alliance Corporation, Bell, Genband Canada, Morneau Shepell, Osler and Via Rail; Bronze Sponsors A.Vogel, Muse Entertainment and RDS; and Barefoot Wine, the Canadiens de Montréal, evenko, Hart Resource Development, L’Impact de Montréal, Paysafe, Rogers Communications and Twitter Canada as supporters of the evening. We believe that education is a powerful tool for positive change. By providing unique human rights training in Canada and globally, we empower changemakers that make their communities better places to be. About Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education Based in Montreal, Equitas is Canada’s oldest and most active human rights education organization, working for the advancement of equality, social justice and respect for human rights. With real impact in Quebec, across Canada and in some of the world’s most challenging places, Equitas builds safer and more equitable communities where children, women and marginalized people are enabled to take leadership in promoting diversity, inclusion and respect for human rights. Gala tickets can be purchased at: https://equitas.org/stories-from-the-field/2016-equitas-gala/.
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Information : Annie Billington, Communications Manager Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education (514) 954-0382, ext. 247 abillington@equitas.org @EquitasIntl