Don't Make Us Work for Free! On September 17th, Ontario women started working for free because of the 29% wage gap between women and men. See the Ontario Equal Pay Coalition's Toronto Star Op Ed, "Ontario's gender pay gap cheats women workers ," and new "Don't Make Me Work for Free " sticker. Check out the website of the Equal Pay Coalition HERE for more information.
New funding for women's shelters; second stage housing programs! Read the Ontario government announcement HERE and our media response HERE .
In Owen Sound the community gathered to honour Aboriginal women murdered and missing in Canada and women in Ontario and around the world who experience violence. The Take Back the Night/Sisters in Spirit event also featured Step it Up!
Lanark County Interval House organized a rousing Take Back the Night for the first time in a number of years. The well-attended rally and march featured Step it Up, entertainment and lots of music.
On September 26th, Step it Up! marched with hundreds of others who gathered at Queen's Park to call for an end to poverty in Ontario. Are provincial election candidates listening to these voices?
Ottawa women featured Step it Up! in their Take Back the Night, handing out buttons and stickers to the large crowd at Minto Park, site of Ottawa's monument to women murdered by men.
Step it Up! was invited to speak and participate in Toronto's 27th Take Back the Night on September 9. We handed out hundreds of buttons and stickers to the large crowd and women on the March route.