Winnipeg Galentine’s Day event promotes self-love, inspires women and girls to treat themselves

A woman organizes items that will be packed into 275 gift bags for Galentine's Day on Feb. 9, 2025. (CTV News Winnipeg/Gary Robson)

Valentine’s Day may be right around the corner, but there’s another holiday coming up that’s just for the girls.

Galentine’s Day is known to celebrate female friendship, but a group in Winnipeg is also using the day to empower women and girls to give themselves a little love, too.

“This event is not intended to fill an essential need for survival,” said Galentine’s Day founder Sara Smith.

“It’s intended to give that little bit of extra joy, that little treat, to people who are very deserving and who don’t have the means to treat themselves to that throughout the rest of the year.”

Smith, along with the Galentine’s Day committee, partners with the North End Women’s Centre every year to provide hundreds of people with locally made “luxury” goods donated by community members and sponsors.

“These little fancy bonus items, a candle or a cozy blanket, or a nice luxurious moisturizer or lip gloss” are just some of the things Smith said women will be able to find in their gift bags as part of the event.

On Sunday, volunteers packed around 275 gift bags that will be handed out at the event, alongside snacks and other treats. There will also be dozens of hairstylists on-hand to offer free haircuts.

“Everyone who comes to Galentine’s Day not only gets treated to special gifts and a nice lunch and a bunch of candy, but gets treated to an experience of care, and gets to leave feeling more confident in themselves, which I think is a really special thing to be able to provide,” Smith said.

This year marks the event’s 10th anniversary. Smith said she started small in 2015 after reflecting on Valentine’s Day festivities of her own.

“One year, I thought I would just buy some candies and get some used videos for myself and have a nice day at home,” Smith recalled. “There’s a lot of people in our city who can’t do that.

“For those who are struggling with difficult times, living through trauma, dealing with domestic issues and may be displaced because of that, I’m sure Valentine’s is especially a time where you should be able to treat yourself.”

While Galentine’s Day strictly caters to the clientele of the North End Women’s Centre, those looking to get involved and support the group’s cause can head to the event’s website.