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Soroptimist walk a step towards gender equality

Jennifer McKinnon knows what it is to work in a man’s world. The human resources and communications co-ordinator is one of only five women in the office at Pacific Coast Terminals in Port Moody.
Soroptimist walk
Darcel Moro and Jennifer McKinnon are kicking up their high heels and flats in preparation for Friday's Soroptimist walk in support of gender equity, that begins at Coquitlam Centre's north plaza at 12 p.m.

Jennifer McKinnon knows what it is to work in a man’s world.

The human resources and communications co-ordinator is one of only five women in the office at Pacific Coast Terminals in Port Moody.

On Friday, McKinnon and several of her colleagues, including five men, will participate in the second annual Walk a Mile in Support of Gender Equality put on by Soroptimist Tri-Cities.

The event, said co-ordinator Darcel Moro, is to start conversations about gender equality and empowering women so they can work and live on a level playing field with men. Sometimes, all it takes is giving men the opportunity to experience the world from a female perspective by — literally — walking a mile in their shoes.

So don’t be surprised to see dozens of men awkwardly strutting in stilettos along Pinetree Way during Friday’s lunch hour.

It drives the point home, said McKinnon, who’s also part of the women in business committee for the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce. Many of her male co-workers have wives in the workforce or daughters at home and giving them a sense of some of the challenges women face at work might make them more empathetic, more likely to advocate for changes such as equal pay for work of equal value.

“The conversation is relevant and more critical than ever,” McKinnon said. “We’re out in the workforce more than we used to be.”

Moro said the timing of Friday’s walk, from noon to 2 p.m., is by design to encourage as many professional, business people, employers and employees as possible to participate. It’s also a professional development day in the school district, so she’s hoping young people will also take note. Last year’s inaugural event attracted 150 participants.

Everyone who participates in this year’s walk will receive a pair of custom socks to remind them of the challenges ahead. There will also be a selection of high-heel shoes in large sizes available to borrow for the walk.

“It’s not easy walking in these shoes,” Moro said. “But it’s fun and it gets the community to talk about a very timely topic.”

And every step someone takes in someone else’s shoes might get us closer to a day when gender equality is just a given, McKinnon said.

“We hope there will be a day when we don’t have to start this conversation.”

• Walk a Mile in Support of Gender Equality goes rain or shine and there will be water and entertainment along the one-mile route. The $20 registration fee goes to support various women’s programs run by the Soroptimists, including Bea’s Kloset, career education for teen girls and coding workshops for young girls. To register and learn more about Soroptimists, go to www.soroptimisttricities.org.