The Canadian Women’s Foundation is thrilled to announce a historic investment of $5,419,117 to support the Building Resilience in Northern Communities initiative. This transformational funding has been made possible by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).

Guided by the Northern Women and Girls Advisory Committee with representatives from Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut, Building Resilience in Northern Communities will address critical needs of women, girls, and Two Spirit, trans, and nonbinary people in the areas of gender-based violence, leadership, climate resilience, and community wellness and disaster management.

The Northern regions of Canada face unique challenges, including high rates of gender-based violence, limited leadership opportunities for women and equity-seeking people, accelerated climate change with gendered impacts, and ongoing barriers to family and community wellness. These issues are rooted in and exacerbated by systemic inequalities, colonial legacies, and geographic isolation.

Over the next three years, this funding from WAGE, along with additional funding from the Definity Foundation will support:

  • Community-led initiatives that address gender-based violence, leadership, economic resilience, and wellness.
  • Learning and knowledge sharing to collaborate, pilot, adapt, and share learning tools, tailored for Northern communities, on service continuity planning, anti-racist approaches to youth mental health, and gender-based violence
  • Community-based research and policy development on gender equality and climate resilience.
  • Community-led leadership and partnership development to ensure sustainable, long-term funding and program continuity.

This work is part of the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s ongoing Northern Gender Equality Strategy. As we build on what we have learned, the continued expansion of this work aims to:

  • Uplift Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and culture
  • Strengthen communities’ access to vital programs and services that support their well-being
  • Empower women, girls, and gender-diverse people to uplift and create positive change in their communities
  • Give program participants the skills they need to build income growth and care for themselves and their loved ones
  • Prevent and address gender-based violence
  • Build greater capacity for Northern communities to sustainably deliver the solutions they need to thrive