About Jessica Howard

Jessica Howard is Manager, Content and Web at the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Having worked as a journalist, blogger, content strategist and university instructor, she believes that storytelling is key to social change. As a mother of two sons, she is also highly knowledgeable about Lego, Star Wars and Superheroes.

New Year, New Opportunities

2016-01-12T13:10:59+00:00January 12, 2016|Gender-based violence, Women in media, Women’s poverty|

Woman looking toward horizonWith the New Year comes new opportunity for progress toward ending gender-based violence and poverty, and promoting women’s leadership.

As we head into January 2016, here are a few of the events, milestones, and developments we’ll be watching for in Canada.

Suffrage Centennial: Let’s start the year with a toast to Manitoba! In January 1916,women in Manitoba won the right to vote and hold government office at the provincial level. Women in Saskatchewan and Alberta won the right to vote later that year. It wasn’t until 1918 that women in Canada won the right to vote on a federal level, (1960 for Indigenous women covered by the Indian Act), but let’s remember that 100 years ago, Manitoba blazed a trail.

Day 12: Remembering the École Polytechnique Massacre

2017-12-19T17:25:07+00:00December 6, 2015|Gender-based violence|

Illustration of 3 red flowersArmed with a rifle, a hunting knife and a hatred of feminists, Marc Lépine walked into Montreal’s École Polytechnique on December 6, 1989.

Lépine had a clear plan when he entered the engineering school that day. He strode into a classroom and separated the male and female students, asking the men to leave.

He asked the women if they knew what was going on. “I am fighting feminism,” he told them. After one of the women tried to reason with Lépine, he started shooting.

Day 4: Leave? Easier Said Than Done

2017-12-19T17:27:01+00:00November 28, 2015|Gender-based violence, Infographics, SHE Magazine|

Woman looking at cameraIt’s one thing to come to terms with being in an abusive relationship.

It’s another to find a safe way out of that relationship when you have five young children.

For Christina*, who shared her story with SHE magazine, it required a huge leap over a chasm of uncertainties. There were safety, financial, legal, and emotional issues to consider as she tried to get through each day.

How can I end our marriage? What if he comes after me? How will I support the children? What if they miss their dad?

Want to make a positive difference? Here are 5 ways to take action

2017-12-19T17:28:50+00:00November 9, 2015|Gender-based violence, How to|

Woman and dandelionWhen you want to achieve an important goal, it often helps to set a deadline.

So how about a deadline of 16 days?

The goal? To help end violence against women.

We know it’s a tall order, so don’t worry, you’re not in it alone! Women and organizations around the world will be be participating in the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.