Although women’s participation in the workforce has increased in recent decades, the wage gender gap persists and women remain strongly underrepresented in many well-paying occupations. Research published by Statistics Canada also shows that “lesbian, gay and bisexual people are more likely to earn lower incomes, experience discrimination on the job, and encounter barriers in finding and advancing in employment, relative to their heterosexual counterparts.”
One of the most effective ways to level the playing field is mentoring. Research indicates that when implemented correctly, inclusive, gender-sensitive mentoring is one of the most effective ways to change the workplace ecosystem, increase compensation for women, and advance women’s careers. Furthermore, inclusive mentorship (and sponsorship) was one of the top recommendations of 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders surveyed by Pride at Work’s study of workplaces in Canada.
That is why Mentor Canada and Mentorat Québec are developing a new mentoring initiative to address employment barriers faced by women and gender-diverse people across Canada.
Pilot organizations needed to support this project. For more details and to apply:
Entitled “Mentor Me Equal: Inclusive mentorship for systemic change,” the initiative will produce a bilingual toolkit that employers, professional associations, unions, and other organizations can use to create an inclusive mentorship program that addresses systemic barriers faced by women and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals across Canada, particularly in male-dominated sectors.
Project Milestones
- January 2025: Project announcement: Press release from Mentor Canada and Mentorat Québec.
- February - July 2025: Development of the in inclusive mentorship toolkit for women
- 25 August to 28 September: Pilot period for the toolkit for women (French)
- 22 October to 14 November: Pilot period for the toolkit for women (English)
- 28 January 2026: Public launch of the inclusive mentorship toolkit for women (French and English), Forum du Mentorat, Montréal, Canada
- February - July 2026: Development of an inclusive mentorship toolkit for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
Pilot Organizations Wanted: Be a Leader in Workplace Equity
Are you an organization interested in implementing cutting-edge, effective mentoring practices? Mentor Me Equal is seeking a limited number of organizations to pilot test their new toolkit in collaboration with the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), the project evaluator.
Pilot organizations will gain exclusive early access to this valuable toolkit, developed by mentoring experts.
For more information on the organizations needed for this pilot and to apply:
Connect With Us: Learn More and Stay Informed
Be amongst the first to receive the toolkit when it's publicly launched:
To reach us, please contact Heather Ancliffe, Workplace Mentoring Lead at Mentor Canada, or Mentorat Québec.