2021 Fund for Gender Equality Grants

Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia (RCFNS) will provide Gender Equality grants totalling over $155,000 to six organizations dedicated to supporting women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse individuals working towards a future grounded in equity, inclusion and justice. The Fund for Gender Equality is part of a partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, funded through the Government of Canada. RCFNS is one of 21 local community foundations across Canada that are taking part. In total, these community foundations are granting $3.4M towards the women’s movement.

 “As we continue our commitment to creating more equitable communities for girls, women and trans people in rural Nova Scotia, we are very pleased to announce the 2021 Fund for Gender Equality Grants,” says RCFNS Past Chair Jean Ward. “The COVID-19 crisis has only strengthened our resolve to improve the lives of those affected by income disparity, racial injustice, food insecurity, and domestic violence – just a few of the areas where gender inequality has an impact.”

The Fund for Gender Equality spans a variety of purposes, including efforts to pilot new initiatives, to address long-standing community needs, or to support a just recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.  In 2021, RCFNS has awarded six Gender Equality Grants:

 

  • Creamery Square Association in Tatamagouche has received $6,160 for their digital media storytelling project ‘My Uncomfortable Hoodie: Stories from Childhood to Adulthood.’ Participants work on gender equality themed personal narrative stories that are presented at the Tatamagouche Regional Academy, the Grace Jollymore Joyce Arts Centre, and online as podcasts.

  • Hope Project Addiction Services Cooperative Ltd in CBRM has received $14,900 for ‘Economic Empowerment Her Way’, an employment project that empowers participants to take control of their futures through education and work opportunities. The project will provide workforce readiness, life skills, job opportunities and trauma supports to at-risk women.

  • Lunenburg County Historical Society has received $19,963 for the ‘Nova Scotia Women Strong – Nothing Without Us’ documentary film project. Produced by a group of women in the area, the documentary film will feature the stories of seven local women who overcame barriers to inequality.

  •  Potlotek First Nation of Chapel Island has received $40,000 to fund their project ‘Welai’uksi’k Epijik (Health for Women)’. The project will empower participants with the skills they need to address gender inequality by delivering workshops on leadership, governance, workplace harassment, domestic violence, self-care and other topics.

  •  The Town of Port Hawkesbury has received $36,872 for ‘Kekina’muemk: Female Mentorship Builds Leadership for Women and Girls in Eastern Nova Scotia’. The project will provide support for newly elected women, and leadership coaching and mentoring with COVID-19 protocols. The mentor program will include women and girls from various socio-economic realities, ages, abilities, two-spirit and LGBTQ++ communities. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with Mi’kmaw elders.

  •  The Tri-County Women’s Centre in Yarmouth has received $37,105 for ‘Mlkiknewa’lsultinej’, a Mi’kmaq leadership program for Indigenous women that will be offered in communities throughout the province. The program will connect Indigenous women with traditional, women-led cultural teaching practices.

 

 Communities for Gender Equality is supported by a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.