Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program

About Women4Climate Toronto

The Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program empowers and supports female climate leaders who are working to develop and implement innovative solutions to address the climate emergency in Toronto.

Ten to 12 women will be selected to join Toronto’s 2023 cohort of the Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program. Through a combination of mentoring, training and networking opportunities, participants will be provided with the resources and supports necessary to take their climate-related project, product or business start-up to the next level.

Following the mentorship program, the City of Toronto and its partners will host a pitch competition that will recognize the top three climate-related projects with the greatest potential to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and resilient urban future in the city of Toronto. The women with the top three projects will receive a cash award and additional support to advance their work. The winner will receive $20,000 and two runners-up will each receive $5,000.

Toronto is one of three cities in Canada and 21 cities globally participating in C40 Cities Women4Climate Mentorship Program, which aims to support 400 women across the globe in accelerating their climate projects.

The leadership and participation of women is critical in solving the global climate crisis. Women also make up more than half the world’s population and are often disproportionately impacted by climate change.

Key Dates

Applications open: November 9, 2022

Applications close: December 6, 2022

Application screening and candidate interviews: December 7, 2022 – January 9, 2023

Mentoring, training and networking: January, 2023 – May, 2023

Pitch competition: June, 2023

Program Details

Over the course of six months, participants will benefit from a combination of mentoring, training and networking opportunities. As a participant, you will:

Meet with three different mentors for one-on-one mentoring sessions. Your mentors will be comprised of leaders from the business sector, public sector, international organizations or academic institutions. Each of your mentors will have a different area of expertise that will provide you with a variety of insights to help accelerate the advancement of your project or business venture.
Participate in four Knowledge Labs to help accelerate your project plans. Topics include:
- Toronto’s climate action strategy
- Business and financial planning
- Marketing and communications strategies
- Preparing the perfect pitch

Schedule optional one-on-one sessions with Knowledge Lab presenters to get feedback specific to your project.
Attend peer-to-peer webinars with the global Women4Climate community. Mentees from other cities engaged in the program will share their project plans and provide feedback.
Connect and build relationships with your fellow mentees and mentors at three networking events, featuring prominent speakers and influencers.

Following the mentorship program, the City of Toronto and its partners will host a pitch competition where the women with the top three projects will receive a cash award and additional support to advance their work. The Winner will be awarded $20,000 and two runner-up projects will receive $5,000 each.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible candidates must:

Identify as women or 2-Spirit,
Live, study or work in Toronto or GTA.
Have an established climate action project or a start-up business to grow with the support of the Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program.
Be 18 years of age or older.

Toronto’s population is made up of diverse communities and groups. The City of Toronto values the contributions made by all residents and is committed to its motto, “Diversity Our Strength”.

The City of Toronto recognizes the barriers presented by discrimination and the disadvantages faced by equity-deserving groups and vulnerable populations. In particular, the City recognizes the unique status and cultural diversity of Indigenous communities and their right to self-determination.

Women4Climate Toronto acknowledges the importance of intersectionality and encourages applications from female-identifying and two-spirited applicants of diverse cultures, races, religions and abilities.

The following individuals are not eligible to apply:

City of Toronto employees, members of Council and their immediate families.
City of Toronto agency and corporation employees, their board members and members of their immediate families.
Members of the mentee selection panel and members of pitch competition jury panel and members of their immediate families.
Mentees from the 2021/2022 Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program cohort.

Selection Criteria

Your project or start-up business must:

Support the achievement of at least one of the targets or goals identified in these key City strategies*:

TransformTO: Toronto’s ambitious climate action strategy lays out a set of long-term, low-carbon goals and strategies to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions and also improve our health, grow our economy, and improve social equity.
Toronto’s Resilience Strategy sets out a vision, goals, and actions to help Toronto survive, adapt and thrive in the face of any challenge, including climate change and growing inequities.
Involve or engage the Toronto community in local climate action.

*Additional City strategies, plans and initiatives that may contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and/or improvement of Toronto’s resilience include: Biodiversity Strategy; City Asset Management; City Wide Real Estate Transformation; Electric Vehicle Strategy; Green Roof Bylaw; Long-term Waste Management Strategy; Net Zero Existing Buildings Strategy, Parkland Strategy; Pollinator Protection Strategy; Ravine Strategy; Strategic Forest Management Plan; Toronto Green Standard; and Wet Weather Flow Master Plan.

Your project or start-up business must contribute to one or more of the following climate priorities:

Sustainable Waste Management
Renewable Energy
Sustainable Buildings
Sustainable Transport
Air Quality
Circular Economy
Biodiversity

All eligible applications will be reviewed by a jury panel.

Application Instructions

Apply to the Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program by completing an online application form on the C40 website.

Applications for the Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program have now closed.

Download the application guidelines

Applying to the Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program Competition (the “Competition”) constitutes your acceptance of these Competition Rules:

W4CTO_Official-Competition-Rules

Selection Process

Tuesday December 6, 2022: Deadline to submit completed online application form. Applications must be submitted online. Please contact Jessica Chow at Jessica.Chow@toronto.ca for accessibility accommodations. No mail, emailed, or hand-delivered applications will be accepted unless arranged in advance. Only complete applications will be considered.

December 9 – December 19, 2022: Applications will be reviewed and screened.

January 7 – 12, 2023: Interviews of shortlisted candidates.

January 13, 2023: Notification of successful candidates.

January 17, 2023: Virtual orientation meeting for the successful mentees.

January 26, 2023: Official activities of the Toronto Mentorship Program begin.

Commitment

Applicants to the Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program must be willing to commit to the following:

Participation in six months of activities from January 2023 to June 2023
To meet assigned mentors for one-on-one mentoring sessions
Attend the first orientation meeting scheduled for January 17, 2023
Attend at least 80% of scheduled program activities including:
- Knowledge Labs
- Office hour sessions
- Networking sessions
- Monthly peer-to-peer webinars with global Women4Climate group
- and any other scheduled activities or events
Participate in the final pitch competition.

Event Schedule

2023 Women4ClimateTO Schedule of Events

Date 2023	Activity
Jan 17	Mentee Orientation
Jan 19	Mentor Orientation
Jan 26	Networking Session 1: Mentor Mentee Meet & Greet
Feb 9	Knowledge Lab: Climate Primer
Feb 13 – 17	1st Meeting: Climate Mentor
Feb 21 – Mar 21	2nd Meeting: Climate Mentor
Mar 29 (tentative)	Networking session 2
Apr 4	Knowledge Lab: Business & Financial Planning
Apr 6 – 13	1st Meeting: Business & Finance Mentor
Apr 14 – 20	2nd Meeting: Business & Finance Mentor
Apr 21	Networking Session 3: Earth Day
May 4	Knowledge Lab: Marketing & Communications
May 8 – 12	1st Meeting: Marketing & Communications Mentor
May 15 – 23	2nd Meeting: Marketing & Communications Mentor
May 25	Knowledge Lab: Pitch Preparation
Jun 17 – 25	Pitch Competition – one date to be selected
Jun 29	Winner’s Celebration

2023 Program Participants

2023 Women4ClimateTO Mentees

Learn more about these emerging climate leaders and their innovative projects.


Amy Castator Carbon Conversations TO	Ana Cuciureanu Splash on Earth	Tina Safaei Pahk Solutions

Cara Des Granges Seedy Farm	Priya Patel Earth Analytics	Julia Morgan Toronto Home Retrofits

Lisa Chen Oceanic Impact	Natalie Duncan Al-enabled Urban Insect Farms	Niki Cesta The Wasteland Plan Foundation

Ellise Gasner #WhereDoesYourRainGo Poster/Essay Contest	Angie Buado Building Residents Capacity for Textile Waste Reduction

2023 Women4Climate Mentors

Women4ClimateTO mentors are professionals from the public and private sector with expertise in a variety of different fields including climate action, business, finance, marketing and communications. Learn more about these dedicated professionals here.


Mary Cochrane Associate Director, Demand Generation EY Canada	Sunali Swaminathan Senior Brand and Marketing Manager, Evergreen	Selina Young Indigenous Affairs Office, City of Toronto

Ohemaa Boateng Executive Director, Black Creek Community Farm	Giselle De Grandis Manager, Business Development and Market Strategy, Hydro One	Amber Nasrulla Communications Advisor, Strategic Communications, City of Toronto

Shatha Qaqish-Clavering Director, Strategy and Operations, Climate Positive Energy Initiatives, University of Toronto	Nancy Ruscica Manager, Outreach and Engagement, Environment and Climate, City of Toronto	Susana Vaz Manager, Business Growth Services, Economic Development and Culture, City of Toronto