Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region

Published purpose

Through this 32-month systemic change project, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC), in partnership with the Accelerator Centre (AC), will scale the #RaisetheBar workplace equity program and the AC:Incubate program to advance women and gender diverse individuals’ economic security and prosperity. It will scale to work with the target population entering and working within STEM fields in the Waterloo Region. It will address the fact that gender-based violence (GBV) is a leading barrier to the target population’s economic advancement, especially entrepreneurs in STEM industries as well as to their access to funding, resulting in limited opportunities for advancement into leadership roles within the entrepreneurial and STEM community. To do so, the project will research existing resources; verify current needs via community engagement; design and develop best practices curriculum to address identified barriers; recruit project cohorts of target population-led start-ups; deliver cohort education programs; evaluate programs on an ongoing basis; showcase the progress by hosting a public cohort graduation; report on the impact of the project; and share the curriculum and learnings with the broader network of sexual assault centres in Ontario and other organizations who are looking for pathways to economic prosperity work with the target population. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region will A) develop integrated framework, conduct consultations & design module architecture; B) finalize the curriculum and deliver institutional pilot programming; C) digitize the curriculum and implement accessibility measures; and D) validate the digital tools, conduct post-project follow-up and share knowledge. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.