From June 7-8, 2022, over 200 gender equality champions, leaders and key stakeholders from across the country gathered in-person for the inaugural Equal Futures 2022: A Gender Equality Summit held on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory, on settler maps known as Ottawa, Ont.
Through the theme “Collaboration, Collective Action and Community”, the summit featured a variety of programming, including practical workshops, high-level panels and discussions and networking opportunities for participants to build connections, strengthen capacity, share expertise, and establish the collective actions to pave the path forward for advancing gender equality across the country and around the world.
The success of this summit could not have been achieved without the incredible support of the Equal Future Network advisory committee, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WaGE) funders, network members, partners and other important stakeholders who have all leaned in, showed up and supported this work – from inception all the way through to execution. We have immense gratitude for everyone who helped us along the way, we wouldn’t be where we are today without you – Thank you!
Over the course of two days, we welcomed attendees from coast-to-coast-to-coast, both in-person and online. Participants represented the depth and breadth of the work being undertaken to advance gender equality in communities across Canada and around the world.
Highlights from the summit included: the keynote address and Indigenous solidarity workshop facilitated by Shanese Steele; opportunities to unpack intersectionality and racial equity, spotlighting the universality of Sustainable Development Goal 5 – gender equality – while establishing local to global connections within our work; a candid reminder from the Honourable Maryam Monsef about the need for rest and recovery in the movement, and the excitement for further collaboration and community building within the sector! Opportunities for Equal Futures Network members to share their work to summit attendees, known as Knowledge Spotlights, were also a big hit as they helped build community and establish partnership opportunities amongst attendees.
As the Equal Futures Network continues to grow, we look forward to building on the momentum of Equal Futures 2022 as we work towards 2023! There have been many lessons learned from hosting this event, both in logistics and programming, and we are committed to continuing to learn from our community members and incorporating your valuable insights into the planning process for Equal Futures 2023. We continue to strive to deliver a summit that encompasses the experiences of the gender equality community, amplifies their work while pushing the needle forward. We will not become complacent in our journey to achieve a more gender just world.
Until next year! We look forward to welcoming everyone to Whitehorse, Yukon territory, the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council in May 2023. Thank you.
The Equal Futures Network acknowledges that Indigenous people are the traditional guardians of Turtle Island, on the land also known as Canada