In Langley there is no shortage of amazing women contributing countless hours of their time to help make the world a better place.
But many do it without fanfare, quietly helping others, and often changing lives.
Every year, the Rotary Club of Langley Central honours some of these women, during a special luncheon.
The fifth annual International Women’s Day Luncheon, with keynote speaker Tamara Taggart, takes place on Saturday, March 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Newland’s Golf and Country Club.
Three Langley women — Kirsten Brazier, Toots Tucker and Penny King — are being honoured this year for their contributions.
The event will include a buffet lunch, silent auction, free giveaways from David’s Tea, complimentary make-up touch ups and gift bags provided by The Bay.
This year’s ticket proceeds go to two Rotary projects — Rotary Kenya Water project and, locally, the Young Strokes for Hope program based out of Walnut Grove Community Centre.
“We had 10 submissions for our women of distinction this year which I think says a lot (about) the amount of women doing great things in the community, a lot of them unsung heroes,” said Rotary women’s day chair Linda Mross.
“It was really hard to decide.”
Last year, the keynote speaker was former Surrey mayor Diane Watts, who is a current federal MP.
Taggart is not just a well-known CTV news anchor, her good work goes beyond that.
She is the chair of the B.C. Women’s Hospital Hope Starts Here campaign. She sits on the several boards including the Children’s Wish Foundation and is a big supporter of the Developmental Disabilities Association and the BC Centre for Ability. She has a 
son with Down syndrome and has faced her own health challenges while continuing to help others.
King has volunteered at Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities for 24 years. She was instrumental in bringing in a program to PRDA that brings First Nations girls who have been sexually abused to work with the horses, as part of their therapy and healing. She also has been a Soroptimist in Langley for 30 years, and promotes them to help support PRDA.
Brazier is a commercial pilot who has had a successful flying career, but has dedicated the last few years to ensuring more girls are introduced to the job opportunities provided by aviation through the annual Sky’s No Limit, Girls Fly Too event. It is held each March on International Women’s Day. She has helped put thousands of female first-time flyers up in the sky for free while also introducing them to female astronauts, mechanics and pilots of all kinds.
Tucker has been ‘tireless’ in her volunteer efforts over the years, said Mross.
Places where she volunteers include Langley Heritage Society, Fort Langley Museum, Langley Garden Club, blood donor clinic, the Cancer Society, Operation Red Nose, Langley Field Naturalists, Salvation Army, Emergency Social Services, and Sharon United Church to name a few.
Tickets are $45 and can be bought online at internationalwomensday.ca or, for those payingcash, at the Langley Times 20258 Fraser Hwy.