Campaign for a Toronto Women’s Equality Office

On Monday, April 27th, 2009 we officially launched our campaign for a Toronto Women’s Equality Office.  (Please click here to see a picture of all of the fabulous women that celebrated the launch).

Now, more than ever as women in Toronto face the brunt of the financial crisis does the City need to move boldly to establish a Toronto Women’s Equalities Office.   In a city with such diversity, where a majority of residents are women, it is vital that the City of Toronto take women’s and girls’ realities into account when planning the city’s vision and future.  Women in Toronto need the city to monitor the services it provides to them in their communities and their homes by consulting with women on an ongoing basis and also by providing recommendations to city departments and programmes in order to address systemic gender discrimination in organizational and community policies and practices.   By establishing a Toronto Women’s Equalities Office, the City of Toronto can demonstrate that it is committed to its women and girl residents.

London, Vienna, San Francisco and Montreal are just a few of the cities across the world and in Canada that have established dedicated departments for women. These cities recognize the benefits of putting money and resources into creating conditions that will promote women’s equality.

We are asking for your support in this campaign and to work with us to make this office a reality.   We ask that you sign the declaration and ask your colleagues, friends and family to do the same.   We have already received signatures from Jean Augustine, Michele Landsberg, Jack Layton, Susan Kadis, Sally Armstrong, Nancy Peckford, Frances Lankin and city councillor Adam Vaughan.  For a full list of signatories, please click here.

A printable copy of the declaration can be downloaded here

If you would like to get involved in this campaign, please contact Melissa Wong, Research & Administrative Coordinator at info@twca.ca or 647-235-8575 and help us make Equality Matter!