The Power of Women in Real Estate: Driving Change & Growth
In 1977, the UN officially recognized March 8th as a day to honor women’s contributions and push for gender equality. It is meant to be a reminder of the resilience, achievements, and ongoing struggles of women across the world, and the progress that has been made on things like; fair wages, voting rights, and workplace protections.
Did you Know? Women in Real Estate
Women have been shaping Canada’s real estate industry for decades, playing key roles as brokers, advisors, and market leaders. In fact, the real estate sector has one of the highest percentages of female professionals compared to other industries.
In Canada, the representation of women in the real estate profession varies across different sectors:
Residential Real Estate: Women constitute nearly 60% of REALTORS® in Canada, highlighting their significant presence in this sector.
Commercial Real Estate: The percentage of positions held by women has increased from 32% in 2000 to 43% in recent years. collierscanada.com
Women are not only trusted advisors in helping families find homes but also influential in driving market trends, negotiating major deals, and mentoring the next generation of agents.
The leadership of woman in real estate has helped redefine what success looks like in this business.
Who Inspires You?
For me, it’s my mom—Ann Barbour.
A powerhouse in real estate for over 30 years with Royal LePage in Kingston, she built her career on heart, integrity, and fierce negotiation skills—helping countless families find their perfect home.
She retired at 77 but hasn’t slowed down one bit—nearly 300 F45 classes, cycling, pickleball, and the best dinner parties around. She’s proof that strength, passion, and energy never fade.
Special honorary mention to KJ's mom - Diane Duck, who has too many superpowers to name; artistic, creative, a gigantic heart and dangerous gift with baked goods. FUN FACT-she also dipped her toes in the real estate business.
Here’s to the women who inspire us every day. 💜 Who’s yours?
Tag the women who inspire you #InternationalWomensDay #WomenWhoInspire #IWD2025
The History of International Women’s Day: A Look Back and a Canadian Perspective
How International Women’s Day Began
The origins of International Women’s Day trace back to the early 20th century — a time of dramatic industrial change, rapid urbanization, and political upheaval. In 1908, women workers in New York City held a strike demanding better pay, shorter hours, and voting rights. Inspired by these events, the first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States in 1909.
Just a year later, in 1910, at the International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen, a proposal was made to establish a global day to recognize and advance women’s rights. The idea was championed by Clara Zetkin, a German socialist and women’s rights advocate. The first International Women’s Day was officially marked on March 19, 1911, with rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
The date was eventually moved to March 8th and gained even more global significance after the women-led protests in Russia in 1917, demanding bread and peace, which ultimately contributed to the Russian Revolution. By 1977, the United Nations formally recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day, encouraging all member states — including Canada — to observe and celebrate.
Canada’s Role in Women’s Rights Movements
While International Women’s Day is a global event, Canada’s own history of feminism has left a unique mark on the world. Women in Canada have long fought for legal, political, and social rights, with key milestones reflecting broader struggles for equality.
The Suffrage Movement in Canada
Canadian women, much like their counterparts in the U.S. and Britain, fought for the right to vote. In 1916, women in Manitoba became the first in Canada to win the right to vote in provincial elections, followed closely by Saskatchewan and Alberta. Federally, most Canadian women gained the right to vote in 1918, though Indigenous women and many racialized women were excluded until much later.
The Famous Five and the Person’s Case
In 1929, the Famous Five — Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards, and Irene Parlby — made legal history when the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain (then Canada’s highest court of appeal) ruled that women were “persons” under the law, and therefore eligible to sit in the Senate. This landmark case remains one of the most celebrated victories in Canadian feminist history.
The Famous Five (left to right) Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby. Image courtesy of Farm and Ranch Review, January 2, 1930.
Women’s Liberation and Second Wave Feminism in Canada
By the 1960s and 70s, Canadian feminism expanded beyond legal and political rights into workplace equality, reproductive rights, and protection from violence. This era saw the founding of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) in 1971, a major force in advocating for gender equality at all levels of government.
The Royal Commission on the Status of Women, published in 1970, recommended pay equity, maternity leave, and better representation for women in politics — all issues that remain relevant today. Canadian women’s activism during this period paralleled the rise of International Women’s Day as a rallying point for protests, marches, and advocacy work.
From left to right: John Humphrey, Lola M. Lange, Jeanne Lapointe, Florence Bird, Jacques Henripin, Elsie MacGill, and Doris Ogilvie. Retrieved from http://www.larevolutiontranquille.ca/en/the-committee-on-bird.php
International Women’s Day in Canada Today
In contemporary Canada, International Women’s Day is recognized not just as a celebration, but also a reminder of the ongoing fight for equity, particularly for Indigenous women, racialized women, LGBTQ2S+ women, and women with disabilities, who still face disproportionate barriers.
Canadian cities host marches, panel discussions, cultural events, and advocacy campaigns on March 8th, often tying local struggles — such as missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) — to the global feminist movement. Organizations like the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), and countless grassroots feminist groups use this day to amplify calls for justice, inclusion, and economic equality.
Why It Still Matters
International Women’s Day is more than a hashtag or a corporate slogan — it is a reminder of the hard-won rights that women fought for and the work that still lies ahead. In Canada, the feminist movement continues to evolve, embracing an intersectional lens that recognizes how race, class, sexuality, and ability shape women’s experiences.
So, on March 8th, whether you join a march, read up on feminist history, support women-owned businesses, or simply reflect on the achievements of women in your life, remember: this day is part of a legacy of resistance, resilience, and hope — in Canada and around the world.
