Celebrate women and ‘be bold for change’

Originally posted: March 08, 2017

In celebration of International Women’s Day, transgender executive to discuss equality with MITT students, faculty, and staff 

It’s been just over a year since Cynthia Fortlage began her new life as a woman. Today, she is sharing her journey with students, faculty and staff at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) as part of International Women’s Day 2017, which is themed: Be Bold For Change. 

Her message is simple. 

“This is not just about someone who is transgender; it also pertains to people of different religions, cultures, refugees,” says Fortlage, who is an international award-winning information technology executive with Winnipeg-based customs brokerage firm, GHY. “What society needs to do is accept us and understand that we are human beings.”

Student members of MITT’s Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) group organized the event. In addition to inviting Fortlage to speak, they created buttons with the help of MITT’s Graphic and Print Technician program. Available for a minimum donation of $1, proceeds of the button sales will go to United Way Winnipeg in support of programs benefitting women in the community. As a show of support, all members of MITT’s campus community have also been encouraged to wear purple – the official colour of International Women’s Day.   

“Our WITT members took this project on in their own time, outside of their studies,” says Liz Choi, Vice-President of Students and Strategic Partnerships at MITT. “We are so proud of their initiative and this event they have put together for the benefit of our entire campus community.” 

Formed in fall 2015, The Women in Trades and Technology group invites women in the various programs at MITT to meet, connect with one another, and further develop skills that employers are looking for.

When: March 8, 2017, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: MITT Deltas, far north side of 130 Henlow Bay campus