Equality Matters newsletter: November 2025

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In this issue of Equality Matters, we mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (16 Days). To help you dive deeper into certain aspects of gender-based violence (GBV), we have features on real-life examples of GBV for you to start meaningful conversations with the young people in your life, a new fact sheet on economic abuse and an article on how Next Gen Men is engaging with men and boys to challenge harmful social and cultural norms as well as end GBV.

We also highlight the gender equality investments announced in Budget 2025, a new WAGE webpage on advancing reconciliation and gender equality and celebrate the recipients of the 2025 Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case. Keep reading!

Take Action to End Gender-based Violence

Now in its 34th year, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (November 25 to December 10) bring people around the world together to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. GBV remains a widespread and urgent issue, one that requires our attention and action now more than ever.

Here’s how you can get involved:

Wear purple on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to raise awareness
Learn about the Government of Canada’s actions to prevent and address GBV
Join the conversation online by following WAGE on social media
Use our digital toolkit to show your support and raise awareness

Stay informed on WAGE’s Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre initiatives during 16 Days by joining their distribution list.

Get involved and learn more

Gender equality investments announced in Budget 2025

The Government of Canada is investing $660.5 million over five years, with $132.1 million ongoing for WAGE to ensure sustained progress toward equality and safety for women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

This funding will enable WAGE to continue its critical work to empower women and 2SLGBTQI+ people through programs that enhance meaningful participation in our economy.

How does this funding breakdown?

$382.5 million over five years, with $76.5 million ongoing, to revitalize and stabilize efforts to advance women’s equality in Canada.
$223.4 million over five years, with $44.7 million ongoing, to strengthen federal action in response to gender-based violence.
$54.6 million over five years, with $10.9 million ongoing, to support the 2SLGBTQI+ communities and Pride security.

Learn more

How would you react?

Gender-based Violence can happen to anyone, anywhere: on the bus, during a night out, online or at home. It’s not always easy to spot, especially for young people, and it can feel hard or scary to speak up.

These real-life examples can help start honest conversations with the young person in your life about what GBV can look like, how they can safely support a friend or ask for help.

Private pictures

Controlling partner

Post-party pressure

Creating safe spaces online

Transcript of the video

[Video opens with a close-up of a person being interviewed]

Jake Stika: The masculine script – you’ve got to be tough, you shouldn’t show emotion, and you shouldn’t ask for help – like, that’s more harmful than it is helpful. And so you get to define your masculinity, don’t let others define it for you.

[Upbeat music. A colourful gradient appears on screen with an animation of a stopwatch. Text on screen: 90 seconds with Jake Stika, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Next Gen Men]

[Close-up of Jake]

Jake: My name is Jake Stika, I use he/him pronouns and I am the Executive Director and co-Founder since 2014.

We are working towards a future where boys and men feel less pain and cause less harm. And the way we are going to achieve that outcome is by changing the way that we see, act, and think about masculinity among youth in communities and at workplaces.

We never want to be wholly apart from the youth. And so one of the things we do now that is direct youth provision is our outdoor education experiences in the summer called the Rights of Passage Expeditions.

We started a Discord server during the pandemic called Next Gen Men Boys Club, that’s evolved to Next Gen Men Boys + Club. And, you know, we’ve been running that online over the last three years and now we are grateful to have WAGE behind us helping us to build a promising practice out of this because how do we give this model and this possibility to Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, other organizations working with youth so that they can also create their own online communities for youth in their spaces because they’re already in relationship with them.

[A colourful gradient appears on screen. Text on screen: Equality in Action]

[The Canada wordmark appears.]

Changing how young men and boys think about masculinity starts with creating safe spaces for honest conversations. Supported by WAGE funding, Next Gen Men fosters online communities where youth connect over everyday topics like video games and memes, while offering each other support. Through these discussions, the organization challenges harmful social and cultural norms and helps build a future where young men feel less pain, cause less harm, and grow into healthy, connected individuals.

Watch or read more about Next Gen Men’s mission.

Understanding economic abuse

Have you heard of economic abuse? It’s an often hidden and significantly damaging form of gender-based violence that is all too common.

Its effects can last long after the abuse ends. Victims and survivors may face poverty, debt, poor credit, housing instability, or long-term emotional and financial stress. It can prevent a person from leaving an abusive relationship, from rebuilding their future, and from participating fully in the economy. Everyday goals like paying bills, buying a car, or returning to school can become major challenges.

Learn more and find resources in WAGE’s new economic abuse factsheet.

Did you know? The Government of Canada recently announced its intention to work with stakeholders and banks to develop a voluntary Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Economic Abuse, which will ensure they can respond to economic abuse in ways that reduce harm and support long-term financial stability.

Read the factsheet

Advancing reconciliation and gender equality

Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people contribute to every part of our society yet continue to face unique and complex challenges.

Our new webpage highlights how WAGE provides programs and funding, such as the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, as well as supports initiatives such as the Indigenous Women’s Circle.

And the award goes to...

Each year, on October 18, Persons Day is marked in Canada to commemorate the day in 1929 when the historic decision to include women in the legal definition of “persons” was handed down by Canada’s highest court of appeal.

The Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case recognize individuals who have made outstanding efforts to advance gender equality in Canada.

Find out who the 2025 Recipients are

Did you know?

According to a recent United Nations Women’s report on gender representation in the media, despite being half the world's population women make up only a quarter of those seen or heard in the news.

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2025-11-20

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