Backgrounder -  Government of Canada announces investment in women’s organization in North Bay

Department for Women and Gender Equality – Women’s Program

One of the ways the Department for Women and Gender Equality advances gender equality in Canada is by providing funding to eligible organizations through the Women’s Program. Projects are selected via calls for proposals on specific themes, as well as through a continuous intake process that allows the Women’s Program to address emerging issues as they arise.

The Women’s Program funds projects that address systemic barriers to women’s equality in three priority areas: ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles.

Capacity-building Call for Proposals

In October 2018, Minister Monsef announced a Call for Proposals under the Capacity-building Fund of the Women’s Program. Projects at the local, provincial, and national level were eligible for different amounts of funding, based on their specific internal needs and reach. 

On March 8, 2019, International Women’s Day, Minister Monsef announced that over 250 women’s organizations across the country would receive funding from the Capacity-building Fund. 

The objective is to fund proposals that will increase the capacity of eligible women’s organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women, whose initiatives contribute to a viable women’s movement in Canada that advances gender equality. Funding will increase the ability of organizations to grow, meet the increasing demands for their services, and continue to work collectively to address gender equality issues. The fund stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to help support a viable and sustainable women’s movement across Canada. 

North Bay Project
Today’s announcement in North Bay, Ontario profiled one project selected for federal funding through the Capacity-building Fund: 

Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing

Project title: Amelia Rising -- Meeting Increasing Demand
Funding amount: $238,957

Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing is adapting their services to the changing and growing needs of their community by developing new partnerships and improving the accessibility of their services. The Centre aims to ensure its services are available in both official languages and are physically accessible to rural women in the Northern region, who face unique barriers to accessing them.

Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing works to empower and provide a voice for women and the communities in which they live in order to: eliminate violence against women and children; create social change regarding issues of equality and justice; develop and apply anti-oppressive approaches; and provide healing from sexual violence.