The Canadian Women’s Foundation is a national leader in the movement for gender equality in Canada. Through funding, research, advocacy, and knowledge sharing, we work to achieve systemic change. We support women, girls, and gender-diverse people to move out of violence, out of poverty, and into confidence and leadership. Since 1991, our partners and donors have contributed more than $130 million to fund over 2,500 lifetransforming programs throughout the country. These programs address the root causes of the most critical issues that impact diverse women, girls, and Two-Spirit, trans, and nonbinary people who face the greatest barriers and have the least access to relevant services.

The shock of the pandemic has shaken 30 years of gender equality gains. Between the pandemic’s impact on women-majority essential workers and racialized women and families increased femicide and risk of gender-based violence, economic inequality and insecurity, burdensome caregiving demands, and shrinking access to services, we need to focus our commitment to the diverse women, girls, and gender-diverse people who are most at risk.

We need to ensure Canada recovers from the pandemic in a way that breaks old cycles of inequality. We have the chance to imagine a new future. A future where everyone would be able to achieve their career goals. They would be paid fair and livable wages. They would be safe from violence, harassment, and discrimination. Their diverse voices would be well-represented in decision-making. They would have every opportunity to thrive. As The Honourable Rosemary Brown, one of our Founding Mothers said, “[u]ntil all of us have made it, none of us have made it.”

Our impact is fueled by the generosity of tireless donors, like Viewpoint Foundation whose continued support makes it possible to fund grant programs and systems and policy change work of the Foundation as Canada’s voice for gender equality.

Viewpoint Foundation helps us defy the statistics, care for the women, girls, and gender diverse people who need our support. They’re part of a movement that funds economic development, violence prevention, and education programs throughout Canada, including in Calgary:

• The Women in Technology Employment training program, offered by the Making Changes Association in Calgary serves unemployed/underemployed immigrant and Indigenous women in Calgary, combining employability skills upgrading, technical training in web development, and hands-on work experience.

Ineha left everything she knew behind for a better life in Canada. While struggling with homesickness and self-doubt, she applied to the program. Over 16 months, she developed the skills she needed to work in IT and began a new journey toward financial independence.

“The program truly changed my life and this is just the beginning of a new road ahead.”
– Ineha

• Girl Power, Girl Force delivered by The Women’s Centre of Calgary, plays a unique role in young people’s lives, connecting them with a supportive environment and other resources that they may not have access to at school or at home. They run after-school and summer programs for girls to build a sense of community, explore issues in their lives, foster activism, and leadership.

“I can just talk about my day and the people around me will understand and not judge me and I can just be myself and share my opinions on things.”
– Participant

To learn more about the Canadian Women’s Foundation, please visit: www.canadianwomen.org.

To learn about investing in Gender Justice, please contact Laura Owen, Senior Director, Philanthropic and Planned Giving by email at lowen@canadianwomen.org.