In Toronto, on October 31st, 2018, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, the Minister of Status of Women, met with Global Compact Network Canada and companies in its network to identify ways to develop strategic partnerships for gender equality. The government understands that complex social issues like gender equality cannot be solved alone and companies are well positioned to drive change among social norms and economic opportunities for women.

All the participating companies including AgriTeam, GM Canada, Matrix360, Deloitte, Stantec, BMO, Baker McKenzie, and JLL Canada, shared their work in this field with the Minister and discussed areas where collaborative work could produce positive results. Topics including the importance of having role models, developing reverse mentorship programs, the return to work process and its challenges, the business case for gender equality, girls and women in STEM, the low representation of women in financial and real estate sectors, the role of marketing and advertisement, training on inclusivity, and the role of men and boys were given special attention in this discussion.

Stay tuned with us to learn more about the outcomes of these dialogues!