In lead up to Women Deliver, Government of Canada announces funding to support and engage local women's organizations in British Columbia

News provided by

Department for Women and Gender Equality

May 31, 2019, 15:31 ET

OTTAWA, May 31, 2019 /CNW/ - Advancing gender equality is essential to growing the middle class, strengthening the economy, and building a healthier, more secure future for everyone. As Canada prepares to host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, the world's largest gathering on the health, rights and well-being of women and girls, the Government of Canada continues to work to ensure that local, grassroots women's organizations and advocates are supported and engaged in gender equality discussions and initiatives.

That's why today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced over $300,000 for two new initiatives supporting the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, and that help drive real progress for all women in Canada:  

  • Battered Women's Support Services will receive $150,000 to host Feminists Deliver, a concurrent conference and trade show to Women Deliver 2019 taking place in Vancouver from June 3-6, 2019. A collaboration of over 40 not-for-profit organizations led by women, it will showcase community-based responses to advancing gender equality and feature 45 panelists and five keynote speakers. The focus of Feminists Deliver will be diversity and inclusion for people in British Columbia who experience marginalization because of gender.
  • First Nations Health Authority will receive $151,187 to host Nutsamaht Indigenous Women's Pre-Conference, a one-day conference taking place in Vancouver on June 2, 2019. Featuring 30 speakers and 250 participants from Canada and around the world, this event will raise awareness and foster advocacy through the engagement of Indigenous women and girls of diverse perspectives, strengths, abilities, and sexual and gender identities.

The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is an important opportunity for all Canadians to take action on the work we must still do to make our country and the world a safer, more equal place for women, girls, and people of all gender identities and expressions.

Quotes

"We are in the midst of a critical moment for women and girls. In the lead up to Women Deliver 2019, our government is mobilizing Canadians to advance gender equality in their communities, across the country and around the world. It's our priority to ensure that all voices are represented, heard and engaged in these efforts. That's why supporting Feminists Deliver and the Nutsamaht Indigenous Women's Pre-Conference is so important – so that we can learn from the valuable insights and expertise of community advocates and Indigenous women working everyday on the front lines. By elevating the diverse voices of women and girls in Canada, we will be able to make meaningful progress for all women and gender diverse peoples."

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality

"Our goal is to bring local communities together to share knowledge and build resilience to address discrimination and exclusion based on gender. Through Feminists Deliver, we can connect our local efforts and the more than 40 organizations we represent with national and international campaigns. This funding will strengthen our ability to create positive, transformative change and advance gender equity in an intersectional way at the political and private levels of society."

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director
Battered Women's Support Services

Quick Facts

  • Canada will host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference from June 3 to 6, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Held every three years, it is the world's largest gathering on gender equality and the health, rights and well-being of women and girls. 
  • The conference is part of a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide and give voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and those living in conflict and crisis settings. It will bring together more than 8,000 individuals—world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, youth and journalists—from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people joining virtually.
  • The Women's Program at the Department for Women and Gender Equality supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance equality by addressing systemic barriers.

Related Product

Backgrounder

Women Deliver 2019 

As a global champion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls, and gender-diverse people, Canada is hosting the Women Deliver 2019 Conference in Vancouver, June 3-6, 2019. The world's largest gathering on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women, it will bring together more than 8,000 world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists and journalists from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people joining virtually.

Women Deliver 2019 is not just a conference; it's a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide. A movement to advance the health, rights and well-being of women and girls. A movement that gives voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and people living in conflict and crisis settings. It is a movement for transformational change which inspires everyone, everywhere, to take action.

Mobilization initiatives

The Government of Canada is calling on all Canadians to mobilize to advance gender equality in their communities, in Canada, and around the world.

Today's announcement profiled two new initiatives that are part of this mobilization effort: 

Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS)

Project title: Women Deliver and Beyond – Building Capacity for Community-based and Grassroots Women's Organizations
Funding amount: $150,000

BWSS will host Feminists Deliver, a complementary conference and trade show to Women Deliver 2019 taking place in Vancouver from June 3-6, 2019. It is a collaboration of over 40 not-for-profit organizations led by women, showcasing community-based responses to advancing gender equality and featuring 45 panelists and five keynote speakers. The focus of Feminists Deliver will be diversity and inclusion for people in British Columbia who experience marginalization because of gender.

BWSS began in 1979 when a few women organized what has become forty years of resistance and advocacy for women's rights and an end to gender-based violence. BWSS remains committed to its vision through direct services, education and training, advocacy and a consistent and strategic push for institutional and systemic reform. 

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)

Project title: Nutsamaht: We are One. Our Voices. Our Stories. Indigenous Women's Pre-Conference to Women Deliver 2019
Funding amount: $151,187

FNHA will host Nutsamaht Indigenous Women's Pre-Conference, a one-day conference taking place in Vancouver on June 2, 2019, the day prior to the opening of the Women Deliver 2019 Conference. It will celebrate the strengths of Indigenous women and girls and will feature 30 speakers and 250 participants from Canada and around the world. It will raise awareness and foster advocacy around Women Deliver through the engagement of Indigenous women of diverse perspectives, strengths, abilities, and sexual and gender identities.

FNHA is part of a unique health governance structure that includes the First Nations Health Council, and the First Nations Health Directors Association. Collectively, these groups work in partnership with B.C. First Nations to achieve a shared vision.

Associated Links

Follow the Department for Women and Gender Equality:

SOURCE Department for Women and Gender Equality

Braeson Holland, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, 343-549-8825; Valérie Haché, Senior Communications Advisor, Department for Women and Gender Equality, 819-420-8684

Organization Profile

Department for Women and Gender Equality