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Contribution: Women's Program

Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region

$856,811.00

Raise The Bar: Disrupting Gender Bias in Startups

FY 2024-25 · 2024-07-22

Summary
Through this 32-month systemic change project, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC), in partnership with the Accelerator Centre (AC), will scale the #RaisetheBar workplace equity program and the AC:Incubate program to advance women and gender diverse individuals’ economic security and prosperity. It will scale to work with the target population entering and working within STEM fields in the Waterloo Region. It will address the fact that gender-based violence (GBV) is a leading barrier to the target population’s economic advancement, especially entrepreneurs in STEM industries as well as to their access to funding, resulting in limited opportunities for advancement into leadership roles within the entrepreneurial and STEM community. To do so, the project will research existing resources; verify current needs via community engagement; design and develop best practices curriculum to address identified barriers; recruit project cohorts of target population-led start-ups; deliver cohort education programs; evaluate programs on an ongoing basis; showcase the progress by hosting a public cohort graduation; report on the impact of the project; and share the curriculum and learnings with the broader network of sexual assault centres in Ontario and other organizations who are looking for pathways to economic prosperity work with the target population. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region will A) develop integrated framework, conduct consultations & design module architecture; B) finalize the curriculum and deliver institutional pilot programming; C) digitize the curriculum and implement accessibility measures; and D) validate the digital tools, conduct post-project follow-up and share knowledge. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.
Program
Women's Program
Location
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Not-for-profit organization or charity
Type
Contribution
Source
Proactive Disclosure - Grants and Contributions

Amendments

Each version of the agreement as published, oldest first, with its total as of that version. The amount above is the latest.

AmendmentDateFiscal YearTotal
02024-07-222024-25$561,311.00
12024-07-222024-25$856,811.00

As published

Additional Information
Increase of agreement value, Change of end date
Additional Information (French)
Augmentation de la valeur de l'accord, changement de la date de fin
Agreement End Date
2027-03-31
Agreement Number
WP230438
Agreement Start Date
2024-07-22
Agreement Title
Raise The Bar: Disrupting Gender Bias in Startups
Agreement Title (French)
Raise The Bar (Viser plus haut) : Briser les préjugés sexistes dans les entreprises en démarrage
Agreement Type
Contribution
Agreement Value
$856,811.00
Amendment Date
2026-05-27
Amendment Number
1
Description
Through this 32-month systemic change project, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC), in partnership with the Accelerator Centre (AC), will scale the #RaisetheBar workplace equity program and the AC:Incubate program to advance women and gender diverse individuals’ economic security and prosperity. It will scale to work with the target population entering and working within STEM fields in the Waterloo Region. It will address the fact that gender-based violence (GBV) is a leading barrier to the target population’s economic advancement, especially entrepreneurs in STEM industries as well as to their access to funding, resulting in limited opportunities for advancement into leadership roles within the entrepreneurial and STEM community. To do so, the project will research existing resources; verify current needs via community engagement; design and develop best practices curriculum to address identified barriers; recruit project cohorts of target population-led start-ups; deliver cohort education programs; evaluate programs on an ongoing basis; showcase the progress by hosting a public cohort graduation; report on the impact of the project; and share the curriculum and learnings with the broader network of sexual assault centres in Ontario and other organizations who are looking for pathways to economic prosperity work with the target population. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region will A) develop integrated framework, conduct consultations & design module architecture; B) finalize the curriculum and deliver institutional pilot programming; C) digitize the curriculum and implement accessibility measures; and D) validate the digital tools, conduct post-project follow-up and share knowledge. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.
Description (French)
Dans le cadre de ce projet de changement systémique d’une durée de 32 mois, le Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC), en partenariat avec le Accelerator Centre (AC), mettra à l’échelle le programme d’équité en milieu de travail #RaisetheBar (Viser plus haut) et le programme AC:Incubate visant à promouvoir la sécurité et la prospérité économiques des femmes et des personnes de diverses identités de genre. Il sera élargi afin de travailler avec la population cible qui entame une carrière dans les domaines des STIM dans la région de Waterloo. Ce projet permettra de s’attaquer au fait que la violence fondée sur le sexe (VFS) est un obstacle majeur à l’avancement économique de la population cible, en particulier les entrepreneurs du secteur des STIM, ainsi qu’à leur accès à un financement, ce qui se traduira par des possibilités limitées d’avancement dans des rôles de direction au sein de la communauté entrepreneuriale et des STIM. Pour ce faire, le projet comprendra notamment : la quête de ressources existantes, l’évaluation des besoins actuels au moyen de la mobilisation communautaire; la conception et l’élaboration d’un programme de pratiques exemplaires en vue d’éliminer les obstacles cernés; le recrutement de cohortes d’entreprises en démarrage dirigées par la population cible; l’offre de programmes de formation aux cohortes; l’évaluation de programmes sur une base régulière; la présentation de progrès réalisés en organisant une remise de diplôme publique; la production d’un rapport sur les retombées du projet; et enfin, le partage du programme et de son contenu avec le réseau élargi des centres d'aide aux victimes d'agressions sexuelles de l'Ontario ainsi que d'autres organismes qui explorent les voies de la prospérité économique en collaboration avec la population ciblée. Grâce aux fonds supplémentaires et à la prolongation accordés au début de 2026, le Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region : A) élaborera un cadre intégré, mènera des consultations et concevra l’architecture des modules; B) peaufinera le programme d’études et offrira des programmes pilotes institutionnels; C) numérisera le programme d’études et mettra en œuvre des mesures d’accessibilité; D) validera les outils numériques, effectuera le suivi après le projet et diffusera les connaissances. Ce faisant, l’organisme contribuera davantage à l’avancement de l’égalité des genres.
Expected Results
Women and stakeholders have access to supports to address issues relating to equality between women and men.
Expected Results (French)
Les femmes et les parties prenantes peuvent obtenir de l’aide pour traiter des enjeux liés à l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes.
Organization Code
wage
Organization
Women and Gender Equality Canada | Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada
Program Name
Women's Program
Program Name (French)
Programme de promotions de la femme
Program Purpose
The purpose of the Women’s Program is to advance equality for women in Canada by working to address or remove systemic barriers impeding women’s progress and advancement. The WP supports the Government of Canada’s goal of advancing gender equality in Canada. It is consistent with Government of Canada priorities related to economic prosperity, and supports Canada’s international commitments related to gender equality.
Program Purpose (French)
Le Programme de promotion de la femme a pour but de promouvoir l’égalité entre les sexes au Canada et il travaille pour ce faire à réduire ou éliminer les obstacles systémiques qui freinent le progrès des femmes. Le Programme soutient la visée du gouvernement du Canada de promouvoir l’égalité entre les sexes au Canada. Il cadre avec les priorités du gouvernement du Canada en matière de prospérité économique et ses engagements internationaux en matière d’égalité entre les sexes.
Recipient City
Kitchener
Recipient Country
CA
Recipient Legal Name
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region
Recipient Postal Code
N2H 2M2
Recipient Province or Territory
ON
Recipient Type
N
Reference Number
001-2024-2025-Q2-00152
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region - $8… | Canada Spends