Women and Gender Equity Advisory Committee - Volunteer Opportunity

The schedule and location, listed above, are subject to change, if necessary.  Meetings may occasionally be held in-person at City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax

Overview:

The Women and Gender Equity Advisory Committee provides advice to the Executive Standing Committee on the impact of municipal policies, programs, and services on women and gender diverse individuals. 

Objectives/Functions:

The advice provided by the Committee will be guided by the following objectives:

1. the full participation of all women and gender diverse individuals in civic and community affairs by ensuring that policies, programs, and services do not impose barriers to such participation;
2. increased civic and community awareness regarding women and gender diverse individuals within the Municipality by promoting effective communication;
3. the elimination of barriers facing women and gender diverse individuals; and
4. the provision of an equitable opportunity for the Municipality’s women and gender diverse individuals to voice their views by monitoring the effectiveness of the Municipality’s policies, programs, and services.

Duties of the Committee:

The Committee shall advise Council, through the Executive Standing Committee, on matters related to women and gender diverse individuals as follows:

1. receive and review municipal policies, priorities, and decisions using a gender lens, for items directed to the Committee by Council or a Standing Committee of Council, or on its own initiative with direction from the Executive Standing Committee, and to make recommendations;
2. advise on mechanisms to engage and empower women and gender diverse individuals to fully participate in the political process at the municipal level;
3. advise on mechanisms to promote community leadership development for women and gender diverse individuals in the municipality;
4. provide information and resources about women's and gender diverse individuals' gender-based issues to Council, including the use of Gender-Based Analysis Plus; and
5. advise and make recommendations about strategies designed to achieve the objectives of the Committee.

The Committee shall advise business units, through the Chief Administrative Officer, in responding to gender-based issues and concerns of women and gender diverse individuals when requested to do so by the Chief Administrative Officer.

The Committee may advise the municipality on matters relating to its participation in the UN Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Programme.

The Committee may develop an annual work plan for approval by Executive Standing Committee

Membership - Eleven (11) members as follows:

Nine (9) women or gender diverse individuals appointed, with at least one woman gender diverse individual from each of the rural, suburban, and urban areas of the municipality.  In addition, the Committee shall include women or gender diverse individuals from the following communities:

• African Nova Scotian and Black communities
• Indigenous/Aboriginal communities
• 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
• Immigrant communities
• Women and gender diverse individuals with disabilities
• Francophone/Acadian community; and
• Racialized communities.

Two (2) members of Council, at least one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Standing Committee.

Position(s) Available:

• Four (4) women or gender diverse individuals

Length of Term: 

• Two (2) years.   The term of these positions will begin on April 30, 2025

For more information visit the committee webpage.

Deadline to Apply - Monday, December 16, 2024, 11:59:59 p.m.

Apply Now - Volunteer Application Form