Applications open today for the City of Toronto’s Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Programme, which aims to empower and inspire female climate leaders in Toronto.
The program offers a combination of mentoring, networking and collaborative learning opportunities to help women take their climate-related initiative or start-up business to the next level. Participants will work on advancing self-initiated projects or ventures that support the goals of the City’s TransformTO Climate Action Strategy and/or Resilience Strategy.
Mentors from the business sector, public sector, international organizations and social agencies will share their knowledge and skills with up to 12 mentees over a six-month period. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will begin virtually and progress to in-person activities when permitted.
Following the formal mentorship program, the City and its partners will host a pitch competition to recognize the three best women-led climate action projects, with cash awards totalling $30,000 and additional support to advance their projects.
Toronto is one of three Canadian cities participating in C40’s global Women4Climate Mentorship Programme.
Candidates must identify as women; be 18 years of age or older; live, study or work in Toronto; and have an established climate action project or start-up business that they wish to advance with the support of the program.
The City welcomes applications from women of diverse backgrounds. Women with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and women from equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply.
Applications will be accepted until Sunday, November 28, 2021. More information about Women4ClimateTO is available here
More information about the City’s TransformTO climate action strategy is available here
More information about the City’s Resilience Strategy is available here
Quotes:
“With efforts to address the climate emergency in the spotlight globally, it’s important for cities to encourage the ideas and projects of female leaders and entrepreneurs. This forward-looking program helps to ensure that women’s ideas are instrumental in influencing how the City of Toronto continues to address climate change and improve our resilience.”
– Mayor John Tory
“I am delighted to co-champion Toronto’s second cohort of C40’s Women4Climate Mentorship Programme, which empowers female climate leaders and supports our ambitious climate action plan. Through our participation in international programs like Women4Climate and Race to Zero, we are reaffirming our commitment to be net-zero by 2050 or sooner, while preparing our Net Zero Strategy, coming later this month.”
– Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
“Women have become more prominent and influential within the environmental movement than ever before and this program will propel more women in Toronto to become global agents of change. An investment in the brainpower of women is an investment in fighting climate change in Canada and around the world.”
– Heather Taylor, Chief Financial Officer, City of Toronto
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
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