Grants and Contributions

To improve rail infrastructure at road/rail grade crossings.

Through this 32-month systemic change project, Pitch Better Inc. will help advance Black women’s economic security and prosperity through systemic change across Canada. Specifically, the project will address systemic barriers to the participation of Black women in the digital and green economies, where they remain significantly under-represented. The project will nurture a new wave of technology businesses led by underrepresented groups. The project will do this through the implementation of an enterprise accelerator program for Black and equity-seeking women founders, culminating with sponsorship to participate in a pitch competition. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the systemic change project.

Supplemental funding will provide funding for an in-person end-of-cohort Demo Day for participants of the 2025/26 program.

This 20-month systemic change project will help advance the economic security and prosperity, and representation in leadership and decision-making roles of women, and people who identify as women, by engaging employers to create inclusive workplaces in order to harness their talent, reduce absenteeism, retain employees, and enhance performance. Work Wellness Institute (WWI)’s Workplaces Working for Women: Employer Development Program will offer tailored initiatives addressing ongoing workplace barriers such as gender bias and stereotypes, pay inequity, harassment, challenges to work-life balance, limited access to mentorship and opportunity, lack of representation in leadership, and absence of policies and accommodation addressing pregnancy loss or menopause in the workplace. Utilizing research and educational programs, the project will influence systemic change in workplace culture. Key activities include: strengthening WWI's network by collaborating with employers, advocacy groups, and academics; planning and hosting two conferences to facilitate cross-collaboration and discussion on emerging issues; developing educational resources and toolkits for inclusivity and three eCourses, (including tailored orientation packages and focusing on responsive work processes and environments for women's advancement); piloting an in-person training workshop with HR professionals to support implementation of the eCourses’ content and employee handbook; and continuously engaging stakeholders and updating materials for relevance and impact. A comprehensive external evaluation plan will also be implemented to assess program effectiveness with external stakeholders.

Through this 32-month project, The Redwood will build its capacity to advance gender equality. It will address the need for a more effective organizational fundraising infrastructure. The project will include (1) auditing The Redwood’s current fundraising infrastructure; (2) developing strategies to address urgent fundraising infrastructure gaps and identifying primary needs; (3) building a digital fundraising strategy and a corresponding workplan; (4) developing fundraising templates, tools and trainings; and (5) conducting an evaluation of the project.

With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the The Redwood will build on the foundations established in Phase I, by (1) operationalizing its new fundraising systems through website enhancements, (2) applying survivor informed storytelling across social media, (3) establishing aligned communications and marketing practices, (4) expanding CRM and ethical storytelling training, and (5) completing an evaluation to measure capacity gains. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.

Greening potato washing operations with the addition of new space and technologies

Build a paint coating facility to expand operations and reduce carbon footprint

Hire production specialist to enhance farm productivity

Support clean technology ecosystem development in Atlantic Canada

Construct lodge and geodome at Lake Franklin for authentic Indigenous tourism experiences

Establish year-round waterfront tourism accommodations in Ingonish, NS