“INSPIRING VOICES”
After the US and Israeli armies killed the Iranian leader, politicians are calling for regime change in Iran, and uncertainty reigns over how long the war will last, at Soleil de la Floride, we would like to highlight International Women’s Day, celebrated every year on March 8.
According to the United Nations website, women currently have only 64% of the legal rights that men have worldwide, and if progress continues at the current rate, it will take 286 years to close the gap in legal protection. Hence the United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2026: « Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls,“ to launch ”a call to action to dismantle structural barriers to equitable justice, such as discriminatory laws, insufficient legal protections, and harmful social practices and norms that erode the rights of women and girls. »
It is no coincidence that in France and Quebec, we literally refer to International Women’s “Rights” Day. In this regard, the Conseil du statut de la femme (Council on the Status of Women) has chosen to name its campaign this year “Inspiring Voices” to highlight the “voices” of those who, through their initiatives and actions, are making Quebec a more egalitarian and inclusive place.
In the pages of this newspaper, the women featured are inspiring, starting with investigative journalist Jocelyne Cazin, who talks to us about her second thriller, Funestes récoltes, on page 2.
On pages 12 and 13, we feature a report on three inspiring Canadian equestrians who are currently training in Wellington, Florida, to compete in the 2026 World Championships.
On page 15, the issues we are fighting for in terms of women’s rights are explained, and on page 17, Dany Laferrière of the Académie française presents Une histoire d’amour dans une ville au bord de l’explosion (A Love Story in a City on the Verge of Explosion), a magnificent text on the new novel by the inspired and inspiring Haitian poet and novelist Kettly Mars, entitled Je ne te trouverai pas deux fois dans ce même corps (I Will Not Find You Twice in the Same Body). According to Dany Laferrière: “Kettly Mars has just performed a triple backflip, eliminating all obstacles (the numerous barricades and curfews) in the path of a woman in a country where her body is a lawless zone.”
I wish you happy reading and a happy International Women’s Day on March 8.
