Equality Matters newsletter: September 2024

While summer and Pride Season may be coming to a close, our mission continues year-round! Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) has been planning for Gender Equality Week (September 22–28) and we’re here to help you get involved with toolkits and resources.
In this issue of Equality Matters, you’ll also find details on what WAGE and the Government of Canada have accomplished in year two of the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, as well as free back to school resources on gender-based violence (GBV), and answers to ‘why are women choosing the bear'.
Heads up! Women’s History Month is coming up in October. Keep an eye on WAGE’s social media channels to stay up to date on all the latest news and content.

Gender Equality Week
Gender Equality Week (September 22–28) is nearly here! This year’s theme, Unlocking Potential: Economic power through gender equality, focuses on Canada’s commitment to working towards a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can fully participate and succeed. Are you looking to learn more and for ways to get involved? Check out the learning toolkit—it has tons of educational tools, activities, and resources.

Two-year anniversary of the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan
It’s been two years since the launch of the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, and lots has happened! Curious about the Government of Canada’s progress in its second year? Learn more about the accomplishments and ongoing efforts to advance rights and equality for diverse 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
Since 2016, the Government of Canada has invested over $250 million to advance rights and improve equality for 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Explore this new webpage to see the initiatives and projects we’ve supported.

Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
September 30 marks both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, an important moment to recognize and acknowledge the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools on individuals, families and communities, and to honour the thousands of survivors.
Learn more about how to commemorate these days and the diverse cultures, voices, experiences, and stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

Gender-based violence back to school resources
Speaking to young people in your life about online and offline GBV is essential, but it can also be challenging. To facilitate informed discussions, WAGE has created free, easily accessible learning modules that can be tailored to your needs.
Check out these resources from the It’s Not Just campaign, ideal for parents or teachers as the new school year begins.
Women and girls have taken to social media stating they'd rather come across a bear in the woods over an unknown man. But why is this?

Why are women choosing the bear?
According to thousands of online responses, if a woman was to get attacked by a bear...

She wouldn’t be asked what she was wearing to lead the bear on.

She wouldn’t be asked “Did you tell it no more than once?

She would most likely be believed.
No matter what they were doing, wearing, or saying, GBV is never the fault of the victim/survivor and it takes courage to talk about GBV.
You are not alone.
Did you know?
Statistics Canada recently released new data for the Gender Results Framework on the gender representation of federally appointed judges showing that nearly half of federally appointed judges in Canada are women – increasing from 44% in 2021 to 47% 2023.
Learn more about the Leadership and democratic participation and how the federal government is making measurable progress towards Canada’s gender equality goals.
In case you missed it ...
- Pride flag raising ceremony on Parliament Hill to launch Pride Season
- Government of Canada helps improve women’s participation in the mining sector
- Public Service Pride Week
- Abuse Never Becomes Us (ANBU) develops a group therapy model to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse
- Governments of Canada, Manitoba invest in community-led projects addressing gender-based violence
- New webpage about the evolution of the Pride flag and the current flag used in Canada
- Minister Ien announces $1.6 million for 2SLGBTQI+ organizations in Atlantic Canada
- 2SLGBTQI+ organizations in Quebec to benefit from funding to improve gender equality
Have ideas for a topic in a future newsletter?
Share your thoughts with WAGE at FEGC.Intervenants-Stakeholders.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca.
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