Today is International Women's Day, marking the enormous efforts and contributions women make around the world and locally.

Former High River town councillor and High River District Health Care Foundation development officer Cathy Couey says there were a lot of great women she learned from.

"I think of my mom and grandparents and (former mayor) Lucille Doherty, leaders in our community they're the ones who really forged the path for women and people in our community," she says.

Health Foundation CEO Wendy Kenelly says she too looks up to her mom.

"And I think my daughter, I have a daughter who's going to be 25 at the end of the month, she's moved to Toronto and doing work she loves and I'm so proud of her," Kenelly says. "To know that she has a bigger voice than even our generation had, that she can just do what she wants and stand strong in her own place, that's really meaningful for a mom."

International Women's Day was marked for the first time by the United Nations in 1975.