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Unifor’s Social Justice Fund and CN Rail joined forces to deliver a joint $200,000 grant to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Canada’s public foundation for gender justice. The Foundation focuses on ending violence against women, moving women out of poverty, and building leadership among girls and non-binary youth. The contribution is earmarked for the Foundation’s Girls’ Fund, a national initiative dedicated to uplifting and empowering young people, fostering the next generation of leaders dedicated to gender justice and equity.
“We are proud to join forces between Unifor’s Social Justice Fund and CN Rail to support the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Girls’ Fund,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Investing in young people through programs like this helps build a future defined by gender justice and economic security.”
The Girls’ Fund is designed to empower girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary youth by providing them with opportunities to develop leadership skills, build confidence, and advocate for gender justice. The program includes a robust economic empowerment component integrating financial literacy training, career exploration, and entrepreneurship education, equipping participants with the knowledge and confidence to achieve financial independence. The initiative challenges economic disparities to help young people envision and work towards stable futures.
The $200,000 grant will be distributed to several community-based organizations that support youth from coast to coast. These organizations include the St. John's Native Friendship Centre, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, L'Oasis des Enfants de Rosemont, the Aboriginal People's Alliance Northern Ontario, Association YWCA de Quebec, the YWCA of Yellowknife–NWT, and Huu-ay-aht First Nations–Port Alberni, B.C.
“Unifor is proud to contribute to fostering a national network of resilient, economically empowered, and confident leaders who will be ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow,” added Payne.
