Contribution: Women's Program
Theatre Direct Canada
$1,598,101.00
Balancing Act: Sector Expansion
FY 2024-25 · 2024-07-10
Summary
Through this 33 month systemic change project, Theatre Direct will scale its Balancing Act project to advance women’s economic security and prosperity and representation in leadership and decision-making roles. This project will be scaled to include three new arts sectors: film/television, music and visual arts. It will address barriers to employment and advancement for women with caregiving responsibilities in these new sectors.
The project will facilitate the development of new and updated workplace policies in the new sectors and a pan-Canadian network to disseminate resources. It will also develop policies including specific intersectional considerations to reflect the specialized support needs of caregivers who also identify as belonging to underserved communities.
To do so, Theatre Direct will partner with three sector leads representing the new sectors nationally. Advisory committees will be established for each sector that will recruit organizations to carry out initiatives such as pilot projects and new or updated organizational policies through two cohorts. A feedback mechanism will ensure lessons learned from one cohort is applied to the next. Public facing events will be held to disseminate the work done, resources and findings. An evaluation of the project's impacts will be completed, and recommendations will be developed.
The additional $20,250 in translation funding will allow to meet growing demand for bilingual resources and ensure national accessibility and engagement. This aligns with the Fund’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and serving diverse populations across Canada.
The $25,000 for a Conference Producer will enhance the scope and impact of the project’s final dissemination events. These events are a key deliverable for cross-sector learning and scaling of promising practices. Theatre Direct has demonstrated the organizational capacity to manage this expansion effectively.
With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, Theatre Direct Canada will deliver Targeted Implementation and Change Support Labs to assist organizations from Cohorts 1 and 2 in overcoming barriers to implementing caregiver-supportive policies through peer learning sessions, one-on-one coaching, and expert support. The organization will also deliver sector-specific and regional knowledge mobilization workshops to share policies and promising practices with arts organizations across Canada, both online and in person. In addition, Theatre Direct Canada will develop practical tools to support sustainable implementation, including caregiver policy costing templates, fundraising and advocacy models, and sector-specific sustainability guides. To support long-term learning and uptake, the project will create a virtual learning series and implement an enhanced evaluation framework to assess implementation success, differential impacts, and opportunities for continued systemic change. Through these activities, the organization will further advance gender equality.
Department
Program
Women's Program
Recipient
Location
Toronto, 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.
| Amendment | Date | Fiscal Year | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2024-07-10 | 2024-25 | $1,137,600.00 |
| 1 | 2024-07-10 | 2024-25 | $1,182,850.00 |
| 2 | 2024-07-10 | 2024-25 | $1,598,101.00 |
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
WP230424
Agreement Start Date
2024-07-10
Agreement Title
Balancing Act: Sector Expansion
Agreement Title (French)
Un jeu bien équilibré : Expansion du secteur
Agreement Type
Contribution
Agreement Value
$1,598,101.00
Amendment Date
2026-05-13
Amendment Number
2
Description
Through this 33 month systemic change project, Theatre Direct will scale its Balancing Act project to advance women’s economic security and prosperity and representation in leadership and decision-making roles. This project will be scaled to include three new arts sectors: film/television, music and visual arts. It will address barriers to employment and advancement for women with caregiving responsibilities in these new sectors.
The project will facilitate the development of new and updated workplace policies in the new sectors and a pan-Canadian network to disseminate resources. It will also develop policies including specific intersectional considerations to reflect the specialized support needs of caregivers who also identify as belonging to underserved communities.
To do so, Theatre Direct will partner with three sector leads representing the new sectors nationally. Advisory committees will be established for each sector that will recruit organizations to carry out initiatives such as pilot projects and new or updated organizational policies through two cohorts. A feedback mechanism will ensure lessons learned from one cohort is applied to the next. Public facing events will be held to disseminate the work done, resources and findings. An evaluation of the project's impacts will be completed, and recommendations will be developed.
The additional $20,250 in translation funding will allow to meet growing demand for bilingual resources and ensure national accessibility and engagement. This aligns with the Fund’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and serving diverse populations across Canada.
The $25,000 for a Conference Producer will enhance the scope and impact of the project’s final dissemination events. These events are a key deliverable for cross-sector learning and scaling of promising practices. Theatre Direct has demonstrated the organizational capacity to manage this expansion effectively.
With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, Theatre Direct Canada will deliver Targeted Implementation and Change Support Labs to assist organizations from Cohorts 1 and 2 in overcoming barriers to implementing caregiver-supportive policies through peer learning sessions, one-on-one coaching, and expert support. The organization will also deliver sector-specific and regional knowledge mobilization workshops to share policies and promising practices with arts organizations across Canada, both online and in person. In addition, Theatre Direct Canada will develop practical tools to support sustainable implementation, including caregiver policy costing templates, fundraising and advocacy models, and sector-specific sustainability guides. To support long-term learning and uptake, the project will create a virtual learning series and implement an enhanced evaluation framework to assess implementation success, differential impacts, and opportunities for continued systemic change. Through these activities, the organization will further advance gender equality.
Description (French)
Dans le cadre de ce projet de changement systémique d’une durée de 33 mois, Theatre Direct étendra amplifiera son projet Balancing Act afin de promouvoir la sécurité économique et la prospérité des femmes et favoriser leur accès aux postes de responsabilité leadership et de prise de décision. Ce projet sera étendu pour englober trois nouveaux secteurs artistiques : cinéma/télévision, musique et arts visuels. Il permettra de contrer les obstacles à l’emploi et à l’avancement des femmes qui œuvrent dans ces nouveaux secteurs et qui exercent des responsabilités en matière de soins et d’aide familiales.
Le projet facilitera l’élaboration de nouvelles politiques et de mises à jour en milieu de travail dans les ces nouveaux secteurs, et la mise en place d’un réseau pancanadien de diffusion des ressources. Il permettra également de mettre sur pied des politiques intersectionnelles tenant compte des besoins en soutien spécialisé des personnes qui exercent des responsabilités en matière de soins et d’aide familiales et qui s’identifient comme faisant partie de communautés mal desservies.
Pour ce faire, Theatre Direct s’associera à trois responsables sectoriels représentant les nouveaux secteurs à l’échelle nationale. Des comités consultatifs seront mis sur pied pour chaque secteur. Ils recruteront des organismes qui mettront en œuvre des initiatives telles que des projets pilotes et des politiques organisationnelles (nouvelles ou mises à jour) dans deux cohortes. Un mécanisme processus de rétroaction permettra d’appliquer les leçons apprises d’une cohorte à l’autre. Des événements publics seront organisés en vue de faire connaître le travail réalisé, les ressources et les conclusions tirées du projet. Une évaluation des retombées du projet sera effectuée et des recommandations seront formulées.
Un supplément de 20 250$ en financement supplémentaire permettra de répondre à la demande grandissante pour des ressources bilingues ainsi qu’assurer l’accessibilité et l’engagement au niveau national. Cela rejoint la mission de l’organisme envers l’équité, l’inclusion, et la livraison de services aux diverses populations à travers le Canada.
Un montant de 25 000$ pour l’organisation d’une conférence augmentera la portée et l’impact des événements de diffusion finale du projet. Ces évènements représentent un élément clé pour l’apprentissage et la mise à l’échelle des pratiques prometteuses. Theatre Direct a démontré leur capacité organisationnelle pour gérer cette expansion de façon efficace.
Grâce aux fonds supplémentaires et à la prolongation accordés au début de 2026, Theatre Direct Canada offrira des laboratoires ciblés de mise en œuvre et de soutien au changement pour aider les organismes des cohortes 1 et 2 à surmonter les obstacles à la mise en œuvre de politiques de soutien aux personnes aidantes par l’intermédiaire de séances d’apprentissage par les pairs, d’encadrement individuel et de soutien de spécialistes. L’organisme offrira également des ateliers de mobilisation des connaissances propres aux secteurs et aux régions, tant en ligne qu’en personne, afin de communiquer des politiques et des pratiques prometteuses à des organismes d’art partout au Canada. De plus, Theatre Direct Canada élaborera des outils pratiques pour soutenir une mise en œuvre durable, notamment des gabarits d’établissement de coûts pour les personnes aidantes, des modèles de collecte de fonds et de défense des intérêts, ainsi que des guides de développement durable propres aux secteurs. Pour favoriser l’apprentissage et l’adoption à long terme, le projet créera une série de séances d’apprentissage virtuelles et mettra en place un cadre d’évaluation renforcé pour évaluer le succès de la mise en œuvre, les répercussions différentielles et les possibilités de changement systémique continu. 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
Toronto
Recipient Country
CA
Recipient Legal Name
Theatre Direct Canada
Recipient Postal Code
M6N 2V7
Recipient Province or Territory
ON
Recipient Type
N
Reference Number
001-2024-2025-Q2-00189