It's March 8. Happy International Women's Day.

Today is March 8.

If my father was still alive, today would have been his birthday. He died on father's day, 2008. On the day of his memorial service, the flags were flown at half mast at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. This event would have made him incredibly proud, because it signaled a huge achievement in his life. Against so many odds, he went for something that many would have said was impossible. He left a tiny outport in Newfoundland and Labrador to get an education. And later, he taught at the university that led him towards a brighter future. It was indeed a huge achievement.

Today is also International Women's Day. And last night, against all odds, something amazing happened. Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman in history to win the Oscar Award for outstanding direction of a film. In all 81 previous years of the Academy awards, no woman had ever won the coveted prize. In fact, only 4 women were even nominated.

Happy International Women's Day. It is indeed a day I won't forget....