In lead up to Women Deliver 2019, Government of Canada announces innovative cross-sector partnerships to advance gender equality Français
TORONTO, May 21, 2019 /CNW/ - Advancing gender equality and investing in women is essential to growing the middle class, strengthening the economy, and building a healthier, more secure future in Canada and around the world. As Canada prepares to host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, the world's largest gathering on the health, rights and well-being of women and girls, the Government of Canada is mobilizing all sectors to take action on gender equality by investing in innovative cross-sector partnerships.
That's why today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced two new initiatives, one with BMO Financial Group and the other with the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CanWaCH) to stimulate partnerships between diverse communities, civil society, and public and private sectors to advance gender equality:
- BMO Financial Group will design and deliver a training program for women's organizations across Canada to improve their strategic and financial planning. A recent of survey of Canadian women's organizations conducted by the Government of Canada and BMO identified gaps in these areas, which can result in challenges to these organizations receiving much-needed funding. The training program will include a series of three webinars, available in both English and French, which will be hosted by BMO experts and will include an interactive Q&A. The webcasts will be available at no cost to all women's organizations nationally, including those that applied under the Department for Women and Gender Equality's Capacity-building Fund. Each webcast will be aired twice live and will be available as archived versions in to maximize audience viewing.
- CanWaCH is receiving $366,800 to coordinate domestic mobilization efforts leading up to and following the Women Deliver 2019 Conference. Through this project, CanWaCH will rally partners and leaders from diverse sectors to highlight critical discussions, events, and initiatives that are needed to promote and achieve equality for all gender identities and expressions. CanWaCH will also use part of this funding to award over 50 bursaries to gender equality advocates and mobilizers from across Canada to sponsor their participation at the conference.
The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is an important opportunity for all Canadians to seize global momentum and call attention to the work we must still do to make our country and the world a safer, more equal place for women, girls, and people of all gender identities and expressions.
Quotes
"We are in the midst of a critical moment for women and girls. In the lead up to Women Deliver 2019, our government is seizing the global momentum, and mobilizing Canadians to advance gender equality in their communities, in Canada, and around the world. All of us – in all sectors – have to do our part to ensure that everyone has an equal and fair chance at success, and innovative partnerships between government, business and civil society are essential to achieving lasting equality for all."
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality
"BMO is committed to economic inclusivity and gender equality within our workforce, and in our communities. Empowering women and girls is a critical ingredient to strengthen our national and global economy. BMO is proud to partner with the Government of Canada to grow the capacity of non-profit women's organizations, which are integral to securing a strong economic future for Canada."
Joanna Rotenberg
Group Head, BMO Wealth Management
"CanWaCH is proud to host Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Canada, a rallying cry for unity in gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women. We know that it takes multiple sectors, industries and communities to bring about change. We thank the Government of Canada for this investment and its continued support to Canadians from coast to coast to coast who are preparing events, discussions, and actions leading up to the Women Deliver 2019 Conference."
Julia Anderson, Executive Director
Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health
Quick Facts
- The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is part of a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide and give voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and those living in conflict and crisis settings. It will bring together more than 7,000 individuals—world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, youth and journalists—from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people participating virtually.
- Budget 2018 announced $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada. Adding to this historic investment, Budget 2019 proposes to invest a further $160 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, in the Department for Women and Gender Equality's Women's Program. This means that by 2023–24, the Women's Program, which supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance equality by addressing systemic barriers, will total $100 million a year.
- The Bank of Montreal (BMO) is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. BMO is the first Financial Services company to sponsor the Women Deliver Conference.
- Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CanWaCH) is the secretariat for Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Canada to facilitate cross-issue dialogue and multi-sector collaboration for the advancement of gender equality.
Associated Links
Backgrounder
Women Deliver 2019 Conference
As a global champion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls, transgender, non-binary, and two-spirit people, Canada is looking forward to hosting the Women Deliver 2019 conference in Vancouver June 3-6, 2019. The world's largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women, it will bring together more than 7,000 world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists and journalists from more than 160 countries with an additional 100,000 people joining virtually.
Women Deliver 2019 is not just a conference; it's a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide. A movement to advance the health, rights and well-being of women and girls. A movement that gives voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and people living in conflict and crisis settings. It is a movement for transformational change which inspires everyone, everywhere, to take action. Canada is proud to be a part of this movement.
Mobilization initiatives
The Government of Canada is calling on all Canadians to mobilize to advance gender equality in their communities, in Canada, and around the world.
Today's announcement in Toronto, Ontario, profiled two initiatives that are part of this mobilization effort, and which will stimulate partnerships between communities, civil society organizations, and the public and private sectors:
Bank of Montreal (BMO) Financial Group
BMO Financial Group will design and deliver a training program for women's organizations across Canada to improve their strategic and financial planning. A recent of survey of Canadian women's organizations conducted by the Department for Women and Gender Equality and BMO identified gaps in these areas, which can result in challenges to these organizations receiving much-needed funding. The training program will include a series of three webinars, available in both English and French, which will be hosted by BMO experts and will include an interactive Q&A. The webcasts will be available at no cost to all women's organizations nationally, including those that applied under the Department for Women and Gender Equality's Capacity-building Fund. Each webcast will be aired twice live and will be available as archived versions to maximize audience viewing.
BMO is committed to economic empowerment and driving long-term systemic change to better improve the lives of women and girls in Canada and the U.S. In 2018, BMO announced that $3 billion in capital would be available over three years for Canadian businesses owned by women, which will also create new jobs and strengthen communities. Additionally, BMO offers educational tools such as its website, www.bmoforwomen.com, and a podcast series, Her Money, Her Way, to help inform women on a wide array of relevant topics.
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $807 billion as of January 31, 2019, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.
Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CanWaCH)
CanWaCH is receiving $366,800 from the Department for Women and Gender Equality's Women's Program to coordinate domestic mobilization efforts leading up to and following the Women Deliver 2019 Conference. Through this project, CanWaCH is rallying partners and leaders from diverse sectors to highlight critical discussions, events, and initiatives that are needed to promote and achieve equality for all. CanWaCH is also using part of the funding to provide over 50 bursaries to gender equality advocates and mobilizers from across Canada to sponsor their participation at the conference.
CanWaCH has a membership of more than 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, health professional associations and individuals partnering to improve health outcomes for women and children in more than 1,000 communities worldwide. The organization represents Canada in championing the health rights and needs of the world's most marginalized people.
Backgrounder
Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CanWaCH) bursary recipients
Through support from the Government of Canada, CanWaCH and the Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Secretariat is providing over 50 bursaries to gender equality advocates and mobilizers from across Canada to sponsor their conference registration, travel, and accommodation, so that they can participate in the Women Deliver 2019 Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia from June 3-6, 2019.
The bursary recipients are (see the CanWaCH website for full biographies):
1. Afnan Naeem, a public health professional and advocate from Waterloo, Ontario.
2. Amy Carver, an entrepreneur and healthcare professional from Long Creek, Prince Edward Island.
3. Amy Grant, a Communications Coordinator at YWCA Halifax of Métis and Mi'kmaq descent from K'jipuktuk, Mi'kma'ki (Halifax, Nova Scotia).
4. Amy Robichaud, the Executive Director of Dress for Success Vancouver, a community empowering women into the workforce by providing them with professional attire, career services, and skills development programs.
5. Andrea Sobko, a lawyer, educator and feminist advocate with The Period Purse from Toronto, Ontario.
6. Anita Mark, a social justice advocate, consultant and facilitator with RESULTS Canada from Victoria, British Columbia.
7. Ariel Mishkin, a member of the BC Council for International Cooperation's Board of Directors and an event planner for First Nations Health Authority, from Victoria, British Columbia.
8. Asaf Shargall, a Co-creative Director with Women's Global Health Innovations from Toronto, Ontario.
9. Ashley Hall, a Community Outreach worker with Crossroads for Women from Moncton, New Brunswick.
10. Audrey Baril, a Project Lead and advocate for the health and wellbeing of young women in Burkina Faso and Senegal, from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Lac, Quebec.
11. Aurora Hardy, co-founder and facilitator of Youth for Lateral Kindness, a citizen of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and of the Wolf Clan, based out of Whitehorse, Yukon.
12. Autum Jules, volunteer with Northern Council for Global Cooperation, from the Teslin Tlingit Council First Nations in Yukon Territory.
13. Bintou Barrow, Founder of Gambian Fempreneurs, an organization dedicated to providing women with the visibility and start-up capital they need when embarking on their entrepreneurial journey, from Toronto, Ontario.
14. Brianne Klingspon, a teacher with ONE! International Poverty Relief from Sherwood Park, Alberta.
15. Brittney Potvin, a Program Coordinator with the Northern Council for Global Cooperation (NCGC) and Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC), based in Whitehorse, Yukon.
16. Dillon Black, a gender-nonconforming feminist, anti-violence advocate, and LGBT2ISQ+ rights activist with the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women from Ottawa, Ontario.
17. Emily Haugen, a student at the Kwantlen Polytechnic University and one of this year's Daughters of the Vote, working with Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice from Langley, British Columbia.
18. Esther Enyolu, a trauma counsellor and a guest lecturer on gender-based violence, diversity, inclusion and human rights issues from Durham, Ontario.
19. Faria Khan, an advocate for global health and diplomacy, especially in sexual health, health promotion, and gender-related issues, based in Calgary, Alberta.
20. Fatima Beydoun, a third-year student at Dalhousie University and 2019 Daughter of the Vote from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
21. Francess Amara, a grassroots organizer originally from Sierra Leone, currently living and working in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
22. Francisca Mandeya, a civil servant, transformational speaker, author, and coach, who is passionate about gender equality, living in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
23. Gabrielle Jacob, an student at the University of Northern British Columbia, who has taken on many roles during her undergraduate studies to champion international cooperation, territorial sovereignty, and humanitarian rights from Vancouver, British Columbia.
24. Grace Van Mil, a social justice worker in international and community development from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
25. Habiba Cooper Diallo, an award-winning writer, public speaker and women's health advocate who founded the Women's Health Organization International non-profit, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
26. Hirut Melaku Eyob, a consultant in pregnancy and infant feeding with a focus on racial equity, sexual violence and LGBTQ2 issues, from Montreal, Quebec.
27. Jamileh Naso, a student, spokesperson, and activist with Operation Ezra, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
28. Jannatara Begum, a Bio-archaeology and Physiology student at Wilfrid Laurier University, from Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario.
29. Jane Hope, the marketing and communications manager for Lunapads, a social venture dedicated to sustainable menstruation from Vancouver, British Columbia.
30. Jenn Fredericks, a Team Lead & Community Therapist with the YWCA Moncton in New Brunswick.
31. Jillian Kilfoil, Executive Director with the Women's Network in Prince Edward Island, based in Charlottetown.
32. Jubanti Toppo, an Immigrant Support Program Coordinator with the Antigonish Women's Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Service Association in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
33. Karin Tischler, founder of Emily's Path.ca is a visibilizer and advocate for highly qualified professionals trying to return to paid work after a long period of absence, from Surrey, British Columbia.
34. Karina Walker, a Community Programming Coordinator for Youth within River East Transcona School Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
35. Katie Davey, creator of Femme Wonk, a policy and current affairs podcast and a member of the Youth Working Group on Gender Equality for the Government of Canada, from Saint John, New Brunswick.
36. Lexie Obey, a Plains Cree-Métis women, youth care worker and a recent graduate from Regina, Saskatchewan.
37. Lori Boland, has spent the last 2 decades dedicating her career to the health and well-being of children and families through advocacy projects aimed at shifting culture to be more inclusive, equitable and safe for all people from Vancouver, British Columbia.
38. Lydia Phillip, a Communications Manager at the Black Business Initiative (BBI), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Black entrepreneurs, from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
39. Mai Ngo, host and producer of The Birth Talks, a podcast about birth conversations with a feminist twist, from Toronto, Ontario.
40. Maisyn Sock, a Mi'kmaw woman, student, and Indigenous youth advocate from Eskasoni and Elsipogtog communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
41. Marie-Hélène Lajoie, a Project Officer working with international youth at the Carrefour de solidarité internationale in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
42. Melanie Walker, a Consultation and Accommodation Manager for Tsleil-Waututh Nation, who works to uphold Indigenous rights through consultation with stakeholders and multi-levels of government, currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
43. Mélissa Beaulieu, a Communications and Project Officer with Assemblée des groupes de femmes d'interventions régionales (AGIR Outaouais), from Ottawa, Ontario.
44. Micaela Crighton, an activist, recent graduate, and co-chair of advocacy on the board for the Institute for International Women's Rights from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
45. Miley Wee Kee Leong, a board member with the Centre of Excellence for Women's Health and Good Night Out Vancouver, currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
46. Mishma Mukith, a non-profit organization co-founder and City of Edmonton civic advisory board member from Edmonton, Alberta.
47. Nelly Bassily, an intersectional feminist, sexual rights, and anti-racism activist and Director of Youth Initiatives and International Relations at the DisAbled Women's Network (DAWN Canada) from Montreal, Quebec.
48. Nevena Vucetic, a first-year graduate student with the Department of International Development Studies at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
49. Rachel Richard, a Public Engagement Officer at the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity from Moncton, New Brunswick.
50. Reina Foster, a member of Plan International Canada's Youth Advisory Council from Lac Seul First Nation in Northwestern Ontario.
51. Rosemary Ganley, a lifelong feminist activist and writer, who attended the Fourth UN Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, from Peterborough, Ontario.
52. Sheryl Evans-Price, a municipally elected Trustee for the Algoma District School Board and Director for the Algoma Region at the Ontario Public School Board, from Northeastern Ontario.
53. Sophie Seguin, a midwife, feminist, and co-coordinator at the Regroupement Naissance-Renaissance from Montreal, Quebec.
54. Sophia Qaderi, a second-year Political Science student at MacEwan University from Edmonton, Alberta.
55. Sydney Piggott, a Manager of Programs and Projects at YWCA Canada from Toronto, Ontario.
56. Tyler Andrade, a recent graduate from the University of Winnipeg and a member of the International Institute for Women's Rights, from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
57. Yash Pillay, a PhD student in Medical Biochemistry and grant writer with ONE! International from Sherwood Park, Alberta.
Associated Links
- BMO
- Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health
- Department for Women and Gender Equality's Women's Program
- Women Deliver 2019
Follow the Department for Women and Gender Equality:
SOURCE Department for Women and Gender Equality
Braeson Holland, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, 343-549-8825; Valérie Haché, Senior Communications Advisor, Department for Women and Gender Equality, 819-420-8684
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