Backgrounder: Edmonton - New funding will help support a vibrant gender equality movement across Canada

Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT Centre) - $354,128

The WinSETT Centre is a non-profit organization that aspires to recruit, retain and advance women in the science, engineering, trades and technology sectors.

The WinSETT Centre is receiving $354,128 in funding for a three-year project to challenge gender biases and stereotypes impeding women from joining the  science, engineering, trades and technology sectors. The organization will work with industry partners to develop a strategy to address these stereotypes.This will then be shared with stakeholders, including potential employers.

Women Building Futures (WBF) - $384,000

WBF has been working since 1998 to prepare women for well-paying careers in industries where women have historically been under-represented.

The organization is receiving $384,000 for a three-year project to support the hiring and retention of Indigenous women in the construction, maintenance, and oil and gas sectors. The project will bring together Indigenous women, employers and stakeholders to identify barriers and best practices to advance Indigenous women’s participation in these industries. The organization will develop a series of workshops on workplace practices and dynamics as well as making recommendations to employers and industry champions on how to support the success of Indigenous women employees.

Call for proposals: Funding to Advance Gender Equality in Canada – Over $18 million

In October 2016, Status of Women Canada invited organizations to propose projects that advance gender equality across Canada. As of June 2017, some 50 projects have been approved for over $18 million in Funding to Advance Gender Equality.

Over the course of 36-months, the projects will address systemic barriers in Status of Women Canada’s three areas of focus: increasing women’s economic security and prosperity; encouraging women and girls to be better represented in leadership and decision-making roles; and ending violence against women and girls.

The Canadian Women’s Foundation will convene a strong, independent, pan-Canadian network of women leaders to support feminist action for gender equality at the national level. These leaders have been chosen for their remarkable efforts at the local level to advance gender equality with women, girls and gender non-conforming people. By creating a network of visionary women, we will broaden the reach of their efforts beyond their communities – inspiring others from across the country to add their voices and contribute their ideas towards achieving real progress.