Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario
January Newsletter 2026
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International Day of Education
Saturday, January 24
In September 2015, the international community recognized that education is essential for the success of its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Specifically, it aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.
Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.
Under the theme “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation”, the 2025 International Day of Education encourages reflections on the power of education to equip individuals and communities to navigate, understand and influence technological advancement.
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International Day of Peaceful Coexistence
Wednesday, January 28
Peace is more than the absence of war; it is the ability to live together amid our differences—of sex, race, language, religion, or culture—while upholding the justice and human rights that make such coexistence possible. It is an ongoing process and a long-term goal that demands constant care, vigilance, and active participation from everyone.
With global instability and conflict on the rise, the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence serves as a platform to raise awareness of diverse cultures, values, ways of life, and beliefs, and to highlight the role of education in promoting tolerance.
So, what can you do to promote tolerance? SPEAK UP!
- In your personal life
- In your community
- With your vote
- With your wallet
- With your time
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With a new year comes resolutions and setting intentions. The Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario is setting the intention of creating a more equitable community as a goal for the new year, and we encourage you to do the same.
How do we create a more equitable community? By ensuring fair and equal access to resources, opportunities, and decision making for everyone. This can start in the home with how we treat our partners, our children, and their friends. Creating an equitable community includes our neighbours, our social circles, and our workplaces. It involves our actions in how we treat others, speaking up against harmful treatment of others, and standing up when we witness systemic oppression. Positive change can be made by anyone who cares enough to put in the effort.
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Say "Hello!" to Devon (they/he)
Devon Church is a Registered Nurse, Psychotherapist, and the soft, queer heartbeat behind The Whole Human Being. Their work lives in that rare place where tenderness becomes practical, where grounding someone’s nervous system is as important as helping them feel seen, and where care is something you do with your whole chest.
As a trans person who has learned gender like a landscape, shifting and uneven and sometimes tender and sometimes sharp, Devon carries a lived understanding of what it means to look for safety, belonging, and a place to land. They believe in the kind of spaces where people can show up messy, brilliant, tired, hopeful, whole, and still be welcomed.
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Devon joins the Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario with a full heart, a steady softness, and the belief that communities become braver when we tell the truth gently, laugh generously, and let people be as weird as we are.
Fun Facts:
- My gender is a poem on the verge of crying but still cracking a joke.
- I can turn any room into a gentler one without trying, which is my favourite accidental talent.
- I DJ sometimes, mostly to witness the magic of people healing through bad decisions and good playlists.
- I bring snacks like a hero and forget plates like it is a personality trait at this point.
- My superpower is helping people feel like themselves again, usually by being openly human right alongside them.
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Human Trafficking Awareness Month
January is "Human Trafficking Awareness" month. Anyone can be a victim, however sex traffickers often target people they can take advantage of, like those who may be at odds with their families, in need of work, desperate for money, or survivors of abuse. The recruitment process can sometimes be so subtle that victims may not recognize the risks of being trafficked.
Possible Signs of Sex Trafficking:
- A new relationship with someone older or richer, perhaps online. Does this person seem to be controlling?
- Receiving gifts or cash from a partner for no reason
- In a relationship that has taken a sudden negative turn
- Having intimate images of you being shared online without your consent
- Feeling intimidated or controlled (who you see, withholding a phone or identification)
- Live or work in brutal conditions
If you think you or someone you know my be a victim of human trafficking, contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010.
You can anonymously tell authorities about any potential signs of human trafficking, and no one needs to know you’ve made a report. Your report could save someone’s life. Learn more on the Government of Canada's website.
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Welcoming 2026: A Year of Renewal and Action
As we welcome a new year, we also welcome a renewed sense of purpose.
2026 marks the beginning of a new Advocacy Committee — and with it, a strengthened commitment to gender equity, justice, and collective action. This is a year of renewal: new voices at the table, new energy in our work, and a shared resolve to keep pushing for systems that are fair, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience.
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We step into this year with optimism and determination. Our advocacy will continue to challenge inequity, amplify marginalized voices, and turn values into action — in workplaces, communities, and decision-making spaces.
Together, we are recommitting to the work that matters: standing up, speaking out, and building a future where gender equity isn’t an aspiration, but a reality.
Here’s to a year of collaboration, courage, and meaningful change.
Welcome, 2026. Welcome to a new chapter of advocacy.
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Gendered Realities and the Unhoused
Wednesday, January 7, 7-8:30 PM
Virtual Session via Zoom
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Gender Equality Coalition of Ontario is excited to present the fourth Speaker's Series on January 7. This month’s topic is "Gender Inequality and the Unhoused" and features 3 speakers. This is a free, in-person event. Don’t miss out on some excellent insight.
Featured Speakers:
- Ray Fangrad
- Shelley Yeo
- Joan Atkinson
Moderator:
Register for this free, virtual session via Eventbrite.
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Motivator's Meeting
Thurs, January 22, 1-4 PM
LiUNA - 635 Wilton Grove Rd, London
The purpose of this meeting is to bring together local organizations—non-profits, service providers, advocacy groups, and community leaders—to explore how we can collaborate, uplift one another, and strengthen the collective work being done across St. Thomas and Elgin County.
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As part of our work, we have developed an Anti-Sexist Toolkit, designed to support organizations in identifying, addressing, and preventing gender-based inequities. During the meeting, we will review the toolkit, invite feedback, and create space for open discussion about shared challenges, community needs, and opportunities for partnership.
Our goals for this gathering include:
- Sharing knowledge and experiences to support equity and inclusion
- Learning how our work can complement and strengthen the efforts of other local organizations
- Building partnerships that uplift community initiatives
- Exploring how we can collectively contribute to a safer, more equitable region
If you or a member of your organization wishes to attend, please register for this FREE event via Eventbrite.
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Services Canada Mobile Clinic for LGBTQ+ Youth & Young Adults
Thurs, January 29, 1-4 PM
Rainbow Connections Hub
15 St Catharine Street, 3rd Floor
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Service Canada provides Canadians with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits.
A FREE mobile clinic for Service Canada is coming to Rainbow Connections Drop-in Hub to assist LGBTQ+ Youth and Young Adults sign up for the following programs:
- Canada Disability Benefit
- Canadian Dental Care Plan
- Social Insurance Number
- My Service Canada Account
- Employment Insurance
- And more...
No appointment is required, but you must bring any required documents. (Visit Canada.ca for a list of required documents.)
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Are you a
Queer or Trans youth living in rural Southwestern Ontario?
Do you know
someone who is?
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Rainbow Connections
January 2026 Events for Youth:
Jan 6: QQ - Minute To Win It
Jan 13: QQ - Food Night
Jan 20: QQ - Science Night
Jan 27 YAS - Mix & Mingle
Rainbow Connections is a GECO program in partnership with Rainbow Optimists and funded by United Way. This program creates two safe community space for Trans and Queer youth: Queer Qlub (QQ) for those ages 12-18 and Young Adult Club (YAS) for those 19-30.
Queer Adult Social:
In partnership with Elgin County Pride, queer adults aged 18+ are welcome to join us at 53 Hiawatha Street, St Thomas on the second Thursday of the month from 6-8 PM for Queer Adult Social. Hang out, play some games, and make some friends!
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Rainbow Connections Drop-in Hub
Location: 15 St Catharine Street, Unit 305, St Thomas, ON
Hours: Mon - Thurs, 2-5 PM
Rainbow Connections has officially opened a brand-new physical community hub for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and young adults. Visitors are welcome to stop by, hang out, grab a snack, collect some resources, and just be themselves in a safe, welcoming environment.
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ConnectHER
TAKE THE SURVEY!
This survey is a chance for people at all levels of skilled trades - from leadership and management to supervisors, job crews, and apprentices - to share their perspectives. Your input will help us better understand the barriers, challenges, and opportunities facing women in the trades and highlight what's working, what needs to change, and how industry and tradespeople can move forward together.
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New Year, Same Grit (But More Power)
This year, we’re not asking women to fit into the trades, we’re changing the trades to fit women.
In 2025, GECO is committed to safer worksites, fair access to apprenticeships, real mentorship, and calling out barriers when they show up. We’re fighting for workplaces where women don’t just survive, we lead, earn, and thrive.
Here’s to another year of steel-toed boots, strong voices, and unapologetic equity.
In 2026, we pledge to keep showing up for women in the trades, loudly, consistently, and without compromise.
We will challenge sexism, fight for safety and dignity, amplify lived experience, and open doors that were never meant to stay closed. Not Another Amber Czech.
Because women belong in the trades, not as exceptions, but as experts, leaders, and builders of the future.
Are you passionate about skilled trades and eager to be a part of a supportive community that helps you thrive? Whether you're just starting out or an experienced tradesperson, our ConnectHER trades community is the perfect fit for you!
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