TORONTO, March 8, 2021 – A mother’s role is pivotal to the functioning of her family − especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic − yet her extraordinary efforts are often overlooked, says motherhood expert Professor Andrea O’Reilly in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at 91��ɫ.

“Mothers do the bulk of domestic labour, childcare, and elder care. With social isolation, the burden of carework has increased exponentially in both time and concern, as they are running households with little or no support,” says O’Reilly, who has recently received a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to study the impact of COVID-19 on mothers.

O’Reilly, who co-edited the new book , is available for interviews on:

• The increasingly complex demands on mothers due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• The impact of the new pandemic realities on mothers’ employment
• What strategies mothers can apply to manage competing demands of carework and paid work under COVID-19
• Why mothers are less likely to consider having additional children in current conditions

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future. 

Media Contacts:
Gloria Suhasini, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647.463.4354, suhasini@yorku.ca

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91��ɫ’s ELLA program kicks off in advance of International Women’s Day

TORONTO, March 3, 2020 – An accelerator program supporting 54 women entrepreneurs from 91��ɫ Region and the Greater Toronto Area is being unveiled at a launch event tonight featuring Canada’s International Trade Minister Mary Ng.

(Entrepreneurial Leadership & Learning Alliance) – a program created by women, for women – starts tonight, just days before on March 8.

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade and Member of Parliament for Markham–Thornhill, is speaking at the event, along with 91��ɫ President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton and Jenise Lee, Founder of PurPicks and CertClean who is a 91��ɫ alumna.

Many of the 54 women entrepreneurs in ELLA are attending the kick-off event for the program, which supports existing women entrepreneurs by providing them with one-on-one mentoring with top entrepreneurs, hands-on workshops, leadership training, and a community of experts, peers and supporters.

The federal government is providing $1.8 million in funding for ELLA, led by 91��ɫ’s , in partnership with the small business enterprise centres of Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and 91��ɫ Region. The program will also have several corporate partners; Shopify has signed on as the premier partner in support of ELLA.

“Initiatives like 91��ɫ’s ELLA program help women entrepreneurs gain the knowledge, tools, and connections they need to start and grow their businesses,” said Ng. “Our government is also working to advance these goals through Canada’s first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. Together, we will ensure women-led businesses in the 91��ɫ region – and across the country – have access to the supports they need to start up, scale up, and access new markets.”

Launching ELLA during the same week as International Women’s Day is fitting, given the global need for opportunities and conditions for women to thrive and succeed.

“The ELLA program for women business owners is an example of 91��ɫ’s focus on new educational approaches – like entrepreneurship and work-integrated learning – that equip our graduates to thrive in the competitive global knowledge economy,” said Lenton. “It is especially important that we give women access to the skills, supports and tools needed to build their businesses as part of our work to build a more gender-equal world.”

The ten-month training and support program is tailored to help the 54 women who are participating to accelerate their business growth. They will be given access to a network of other women founders, top experts, mentors and supporters. Tonight’s event marks the first time that the participants are in one room, along with supporters.

In Canada, women entrepreneurs account for only 16 per cent of business owners. For Sarah Howe, Director of Innovation 91��ɫ, the statistics are evidence that women business owners need to be supported. ELLA is especially targeted to women entrepreneurs in 91��ɫ Region because the community is considered underserved, given the region’s large geographically-disbursed population, with some rural and remote areas.

Each of the 54 women entrepreneurs owns 50 per cent or more of their business, has a business with sales and initial traction, and lives in 91��ɫ Region or can travel to 91��ɫ Region for the training and workshops.

“This program is meant for women founders who are ready to hustle and grow their business,” explained Howe. “These women will get access to a community of other women founders, mentor and experts who can give them solid business advice and more connections, everyone from better suppliers to more investors.”

When 91��ɫ alumna Stephanie Florio and her brother realized that students were still applying to jobs by printing a stack of resumes and walking around the mall to hand them out store by store, it sparked an idea.

Florio co-founded , a mobile recruitment app believed to be the first-of-its-kind to help students find part-time, seasonal and entry-level jobs more easily. It also makes the hiring process more efficient for employers.

“The app has similar functionality to Tinder. Once job seekers create their profiles, they swipe right to apply to jobs and swipe left to ignore jobs,” said Florio, a 30-year-old Woodbridge resident. “I joined ELLA to continue to learn and grow my business.”

Another participant is Zuly Matallana, owner of TIARA Bliss Inc. The Vaughan woman created , a reinvented, patented shower cap that blocks water and humidity. She’s had a successful pitch on CBC’s Dragon's Den, was chosen as a 2019 gift pick by Good Morning America and is currently developing new products.

Cherrie-Marie Chiu is the executive director of whose not-for-profit foundation was born after her brother Christopher was diagnosed with ALS. An ELLA participant from Markham, Chiu’s charity raises awareness and funds to support ALS research to find a cure.

NOTE: Please direct media interview requests to the contact below. Photographs of the event are available on request.

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452, vthomps@yorku.ca

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TORONTO, February 27, 2020 – A federally-funded program tailored to give 54 women entrepreneurs from 91��ɫ Region and the Greater Toronto Area the tools and connections needed to grow their businesses will launch at an event next Tuesday, March 3.

91��ɫ President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton will be joined by the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade and Member of Parliament for Markham–Thornhill, along with many of the 54 women business owners who are participants in the program. The launch event will showcase how the program will help women entrepreneurs.

WHAT: ELLA launch and funding announcement

WHEN: Tuesday, March 3 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Second Student Centre, in the second-floor conference centre, at 91��ɫ’s Keele campus (see #102 on this ).

SPEAKERS:

Rhonda L. Lenton, 91��ɫ President and Vice-Chancellor

Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade and Member of Parliament for Markham–Thornhill

Jenise Lee, Founder of PurPicks and CertClean, 91��ɫ alumna (MBA ’12)

Sarah Howe, Director of Innovation 91��ɫ

NOTE:

Program participants available for media interviews include a Woodbridge woman who created a mobile app to help students find jobs, a Vaughan resident who invented a unique shower cap, and a Markham woman who set up a non-profit for ALS research.

Members of the media should RSVP to the contact below.

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452, vthomps@yorku.ca

The post Program for women entrepreneurs to launch before International Women’s Day appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ experts available to discuss how their work supports gender equality

TORONTO,  March 6, 2019 – on March 8 is a time for women to reflect on the progress made and to highlight the goal of a gender-equal world.

This year, the United Nations’ theme is “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” which puts a spotlight on innovation by women and girls, for women and girls, at the root of achieving gender equity. The day is an opportunity to examine how innovation can build services and infrastructure that meet the needs of women and girls, and look at women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions, which continue to be underrepresented.

The following 91��ɫ experts are available for interviews on their research and work which help to build more inclusive systems, remove barriers and advance gender balance.

91��ɫ experts available to discuss gender equality for International Women's Day.

, a biology professor in the Faculty of Science, has spent nearly three decades as an ecologist leading research in plant-herbivore interactions and invasive plant management. Bazely is a STEM scholar who is known for her research and expertise on the intersection of science, policy and politics. She is also focused on reversing the under-representation of women and minorities in STEM and teaching students how to edit to include more biographies about women to reduce the gender gap.

She can comment on:

• Women in science
• The Wikipedia Edit-a-thon as a tool for science history
• Climate change and climate change policy
• Impact of climate change on ecosystems, biodiversity and invasive species

is an assistant lecturer in the Faculty of Health with an expertise in global health, human rights, ethics and race. Her research has focused on transnational Indigenous health and anti-oppression/anti-colonial approaches to mental health. She has also conducted research on how factors such as gender identity, class, sexual orientation, disability, violence and generational connections, impact the health of Black communities and other racialized communities through innovative decolonizing health practices.

She can comment on:

• Global health with a focus of human rights and ethics
• Building services and infrastructure for Black and racialized women and girls
• Women and girl’s mental health and trauma
• Women, girls and child-centred health programs for racialized communities

, an associate professor in the Faculty of Education, was the only Canadian investigator in the , which examined and expanded the terms of cultural recognition and social belonging surrounding LGBTQ sexuality, gender and youth in U.S. schools. The project – a collaboration with education, research and strategic communications partners – conducted research to uncover the ordinary ways LGBTQ conversations circulate inside schools.

She can comment on:

• Children and youth’s understanding of gender and sexuality
• Teachers' understandings of gender and sexuality
• LGBTQ issues in education
• Sex education curriculum

  is an associate professor in the School of Human Resource Management in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. Her research focuses on human resources and organizational behaviour, with a focus on the advancement of women in organizations, gendered career advancement and work-life balance strategies for executives.

She can comment on:

• Women’s career and work-life balance and imbalance and coping with stress
• Workplace issues including gender stereotypes
• Impact of maternity leave and motherhood on career
• Female leadership in technology and women in media

, a Distinguished Research Professor of sociology in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies is known for her contributions to and leadership in improving the lives of women. Her research focuses on how policy and social services impact women. She has served as an expert witness in cases before the Federal Court and Human Rights Tribunals on issues related to women’s health care work and to pay equity.

She can comment on:

• Women’s health care work and pay equity
• Segregated work and feminism
• Workplace violence against long-term care workers
• Canadian health care system, home care and healthy aging

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.
91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452, vthomps@yorku.ca

The post International Women’s Day: Science, health and gender experts available appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ U experts available to discuss advancing research in women’s health

TORONTO, March 7, 2018 –This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, is fueled by movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp. At this important time in our history, there is even more momentum globally to strive for parity across all sectors, including health.

91��ɫ’s Faculty of Health is helping to advance women’s health through many areas of research. Health researchers at 91��ɫ routinely work together across disciplinary lines, across institutions, and collaborate to explore complex issues from diverse perspectives. 91��ɫ’s alone has research ties to more than 30 countries around the world.

The following experts are available to speak about how their research is helping to make significant advances in women’s health:

is an associate professor in the Faculty of Health at 91��ɫ. Her research is pivotal in the interdisciplinary field of community-based mental health promotion in general, and mental health promotion among youth and women in multicultural and immigrant-receiving settings in particular.

Khanlou is also an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health’s School of Nursing and the Academic Lead for the Meighen Wright Foundation Maternal Child Health Scholars Program. Her goal is to enhance the mental health of Ontario’s and Canada’s women, children, and youth, through community-academic and interdisciplinary research.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the mental health field,” says Nazilla Khanlou, the Women’s Health Research Chair in Mental Health at 91��ɫ.  “When I practiced as a psychiatric nurse the focus was only on individuals by specific groups or professionals. But now athletes, artists, schools, and politicians are also talking about its importance for all of us.”

is a professor in the Faculty of Health at 91��ɫ. Recently, Professor Grace’s research helped inform the Heart & Stroke’s heart report and was critical in looking at why women are less likely to be referred to cardiac rehabilitation by their doctor, and why only half as likely as men to attend or finish a cardiac rehab program. Her research centers on global cardiovascular rehabilitation access and delivery, as well as cardiac psychology.  She has led the development of the pan-Canadian quality indicators for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention, and a national policy position on systematic inpatient referral.

She is also appointed at the University Health Network, University of Toronto, as a Senior Scientist with the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s Cardiovascular Rehabilitation & Prevention Program, and member of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.  She is helping to lead the development of the International Council on Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

“Women are missing from life-saving cardiac rehab programs, and our research seeks to understand why and do something about it,” says Grace.

Media contact: Anjum Nayyar, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 44543 anayyar@yorku.ca

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

The post International Women's Day: experts available to discuss advancing research in women’s health appeared first on News@91��ɫ.