Oxford Women in Networking celebrates 10th annual sold-out International Women’s Day Event

Allison Henkel from BDO Canada, giving a speech at OWIN. (Kyrah Smith photo)

Kyrah Smith, Echo Correspondent

Oxford Women in Networking (OWIN) hosted their 10th annual International Women’s Day celebration at Woodstock’s South Gate Centre on March 4. The sold-out event welcomed 151 attendees from across Oxford County.

Inside the venue, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. Women of all ages mingled and chatted, reconnecting with colleagues and meeting fellow business owners from across Oxford County. Guests also had the opportunity to participate in a popular Wine Pull fundraiser. This year’s theme, #GiveToGain, highlighted the power of generosity and collaboration.

Heart FM’s Marcie Culbert served as the evening’s MC, opening the event with a warm welcome and the first round of door prizes.

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be part of this wonderful event, surrounded by so many amazing, energetic, empowering, and encouraging people,” Culbert said. Pausing with a smile, she added, “It’s wonderful to see so many beautiful faces at a sold-out event, I might add.”

Carol Erickson, Vice President of OWIN, followed with remarks that reflected on the organization’s impact and mission.

She began by acknowledging the impressive turnout.

“Seriously, I heard last year Toronto couldn’t even pull that off,” Erickson joked. “That says something about who we are and what we’re building together.”

Erickson described OWIN as a place where women come together to learn, grow, and support one another.

“We grow. Not just our businesses. We grow ourselves, our confidence, our courage, and our community. Tonight is about celebrating that.”

She took time to thank the evening’s sponsors, the organization’s board of directors, and the volunteers whose hard work and dedication helped bring the event together.

Erickson also reflected on her own long-standing connection to the organization, sharing that she has been a proud member of OWIN for more than 30 years. She and her husband have also owned a business in Woodstock for over five decades.

“It’s the collaboration, the kindness, the generosity, and the true spirit of community that I’ve learned from our members,” Erickson said. “I value the acceptance and respect I feel here. Sometimes it’s worth remembering how far we’ve come.”

She then shared a personal story illustrating the progress that has been made.

“At my first job in Woodstock, my brother hired me for $85 a week,” she said. “Six months later, he hired my husband for $180 a week.”

While the experience initially left her feeling frustrated by the blatant inequality, Erickson noted that times have changed, though there is still more work to be done.

“Real change doesn’t happen in a headline,” she said. “It happens in rooms like this, where women connect, back each other up, and build something stronger together.”

Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione also addressed the audience, sharing how the influence of strong women has shaped his own life.

“I’m the oldest son of a single mother of five,” Acchione said. “I witnessed resilience, discipline, and determination firsthand between my mom and my three sisters.”

He spoke about how those experiences continue to guide him today.

“My mother gave everything she had for her children, and what she gained was strength in her family and a legacy that continues to this day,” he said. “I’ve also been blessed with two daughters and now two granddaughters. Watching them grow reinforces why this work matters.”

Acchione noted that women’s leadership is something he sees regularly in his own role.

“I don’t just support women’s leadership in theory. I experience it daily,” he said, noting that five of the seven members of Woodstock City Council are women.

“When women gain leadership, organizations gain performance,” he added. “When diverse perspectives are present, everything becomes more balanced and thoughtful.”

Throughout the evening, additional door prizes were handed out as guests enjoyed a buffet-style dinner accompanied by live music from Patrick Jackson Murphy.

The program also featured three guest speakers: Janet Somers, Liz Wismer-Van Meer, and Allison Henkell, who each shared powerful personal stories and reflections on leadership, resilience, and the importance of supporting the amazing women in our community.

Wismer-Van Meer perhaps captured the spirit of the evening best.

“Give not because you expect anything in return,” she said. “Give because that is how we build a world where women rise together. We don’t divide success; we multiply it.”

As a young woman, I found the event inspiring and going back through my notes, I cannot express how moving the speeches were. While it would be impossible to capture every moment in one article, the sense of encouragement and support in the room was undeniable.

If this year’s celebration was any indication, OWIN’s International Women’s Day event will continue to be a highlight for the community for years to come.