Alright, Now What?

The Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability recently reported that, in 2020 and 2021, the rate of femicide - murders of women because they are women - has been on the rise. In Canada, a woman is killed by her current or former partner an average of every 6 days. That's a pretty frightening and unacceptable number. And that was the number before the pandemic's spike in risk of abuse.  What is femicide, exactly? What can we do to end this completely preventable form of gender-based violence as we move into a new year? Anuradha Dugal, Vice President of Community Initiatives at the Canadian Women's Foundation and a representative of the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, joins us to speak about this issue. Content note: this episode features discussion of femicide and intimate partner abuse. If you need access to support, you can find a list of services that may be useful to you on our website. Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at canadianwomen.org and consider becoming a monthly donor. Be a Signal for Help Responder: signalresponder.ca or text SIGNAL to 540-540 Visit our website and donate today: canadianwomen.org Facebook: Canadian Women’s Foundation Twitter: @cdnwomenfdn LinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s Foundation Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation More about Alright, Now What? Podcast: canadianwomen.org/podcast The Canadian Women's Foundation acknowledges the support of Women and Gender Equality Canada.

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Elia Lauzon from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, whose work and experiences reflect the power of community and intergenerational leadership.In our conversation, Elia speaks with Alyssa Carpenter from the Canadian Women’s Foundation about growing up in a remote northern community and how youth leadership opportunities helped expand her sense of what was possible for her future.We’ll also hear how the women and community leaders who came before her helped create pathways for the next generation, and why building stronger communities requires showing up for one another, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities collectively.

Libby Ward is a writer, speaker, and advocate redefining the motherhood narrative. Through her social media platforms, Libby is known to connect and empower women with honesty, humor, and her relatable voice. She has been featured on the BBC, Good Morning America, and is a member of Reese Witherspoon’s inaugural Hello Sunshine Collective. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two children.

Jenna Barnable is an award-winning, Disabled changemaker from Newfoundland and Labrador, now based in Nova Scotia. As a disability inclusion advocate and anti-ableism educator, she calls for Disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent women, girls and gender-diverse people to be protected, respected and empowered. She’s passionate about advancing disability and gender justice by amplifying authentic Disabled representation in leadership and media.A compelling storyteller with an approachable East Coast touch, Jenna aims for every conversation, podcast interview, digital content series and learning session to empower Disabled self-advocates and supportive community allies. She creates critical anti-ableist, feminist content from her podcast and social media series, to speaking events and free community educational resources. Her work spotlights how interlinked systems of oppression (like colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy, racism and ableism) directly harm Disabled women, girls and gender-diverse people.Jenna’s combined Disabled lived experience, feminism and expertise in business, communications and DEI offers a unique perspective often sought by Canadian organizations, post-secondary institutes, governments and media. She mentors Disabled youth and peers, particularly in rural and remote places where disability and gender justice support is crucial for change.

With ancestral roots in post-colonial Punjab and Kashmir, Somia Sadiq is a leading Planner who has developed a pioneering practice in engagement, conflict transformation, and negotiating space for those whose voices are often unheard or ignored. Rooted in the work of impact assessment, Somia founded Narratives, an award-winning planning and design firm that emphasizes human-centric, trauma-informed story work, lived experience, and creating space for celebration of ancestral identity. Somia is also the founder of Kahanee and Ravayat, a non-profit organization that amplifies storytelling and dialogue for peacebuilding.Somia began her professional planning career undertaking impact assessment with a focus on resource, energy, and infrastructure projects. Her Doctorate focuses on understanding the role of Identity, Othering, and Trauma in conflict transformation. She is a writer and a keynote speaker, offering insights on trauma-informed leadership, and fostering resilience in a rapidly changing environment. Recognized for her contributions to the Planning practice in Canada and internationally, Somia was recently inducted into the Canadian Institute of Planners' esteemed College of Fellows, the highest honour for a planner in Canada. Gajarah, her debut novel, is a powerful testament to the power of storytelling in fostering resilience rooted in identity and ancestral strength.