Celebrating International Women’s Day

In thinking about International Women’s Day this year, a quote by Serena Williams comes to mind, “Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” When I look at the bold successes that so many of my female colleagues past and present have achieved, I recognize all that we’ve accomplished, and I am inspired by what we will accomplish in the future.

I’m proud to be Board Chair at ATRF, working alongside my Board colleagues including two notable women: Maria Holowinsky and Alexandria Matos. Over 70% of our members across Alberta are women, and we provide critical pension management and support for them throughout their careers and their well-earned retirement.

Our employees are the foundation of our organization, and women make up 67% of our workforce. ATRF cultivates growth and development at all levels and many of the established and emerging leaders within the organization are women. To further support women in the workplace, last year ATRF created and implemented a Workplace Flex policy that allows working parents more flexibility to balance their work and life. This is a proven way to support women in the workplace.

Workplace programs are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to embracing equity, which is this year’s theme for International Women’s Day. As a leader, it’s part of my job to set the framework for the organization and lead by example. I’m proud to be working alongside a team of strong, capable women to help ATRF achieve equity for women today and into the future.

-Sandra Johnston, ATRF Board Chair

ATRF is presenting at an upcoming webinar on March 8: Retirement Planning for Women.
Women and men face different challenges in their lives and those challenges can have financial consequences. Women live longer, which means they will likely spend more years alone requiring more retirement savings so they don’t outlive their money. The session focuses on retirement planning specifically for female teachers. Engage in an interactive workshop which aims to improve financial literacy and confidence. Register with the ATA here.