Women in Urbanism Canada Launches Scale-Up Project
In June 2024, Women in Urbanism Canada (WIUC) received notice that our grant application to Women and Gender Equality Canada’s (WAGE) Women’s Capacity Fund was approved. We are grateful to have been awarded a grant of $235,000 to help us deliver the Scale-Up Project from October 2024 - March 2026.
“Women in Urbanism Canada began as an idea in 2018, and it’s taken years of dedicated volunteer work to get the organization where it is today. With this generous grant, we can build up the internal organization infrastructure needed to advance gender equity in communities across the country.”
Women, children, and others enjoying an open Mont-Royal Avenue in Montréal, QC (photo by: Nicole Roach).
Women’s Capacity Fund
The Women’s Capacity Fund has made a $40 million investment into 170 women’s and Indigenous women’s nonprofits across the country. This includes 27 projects with a national scope of work.
“Breaking down barriers to advance gender equality demands collective action that values diverse voices and experiences. Women’s and Indigenous women’s organizations are at the forefront of this work, driving transformative change. By giving them the support they need, they can tackle systemic barriers so that everyone can meaningfully participate in Canada’s economic and social growth.”
Thank you to WAGE for recognizing the capacity-related challenges faced by many grassroots women-led organizations, and delivering significant investments to the groups who need it most.
People crossing intersection at Spadina and College in Toronto, ON (photo by: Nicole Roach).
Scale-Up Project
Over an 18-month period, the organization will lead various capacity building activities, including the hiring of two staff, developing a multi-year strategic plan, creating internal policies and procedures, improving visual and language accessibility of the website, and undergoing relevant team training sessions. As part of these activities, we will be working with several external consultants, engaging our membership, and seeking input from our audience.
People enjoying diverse public seating options in St. Andrews Playground Park in Toronto, ON (photo by: Nicole Roach).
Background
WIUC was publicly launched in January 2022 and incorporated as a national not-for-profit organization in early 2023. Up until recently, the organization has operated as a 100% volunteer-led initiative, beginning with two co-founders and scaling up to a 10-person Board of Directors. In just a few years, the organization has published over 50 blogs, distributed 37 monthly newsletters, launched a membership program, hosted an Annual General Meeting, led a 3-part workshop series, delivered multiple presentations, engaged with media, and amassed thousands of views and followers across platforms.
To stay tuned on our project activities, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media, and if you’re not already, please become a member and come to our Annual General Meeting in April 2025!
Thank you to our past and present board members for your dedication to this important work, and we would especially like to give thanks to Nicole Roach for leading the grant application, with support from past directors, Varvara Belenko and Holly Hixson.
