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Media Release #GEMGirls4Equity Campaign
Women ToPay Less than Men on Equal Pay Day April 4, and Every Tuesday in April, at Toronto Cafes supporting GEM to Close the Gap Towards Equity
Girls E-Mentorship (GEM) kicks off month-long #GEMGirls4Equity campaign to raise awareness and attract mentors for its robust nine-month mentorship program for high school girls in the GTA—advancing hundreds of young women annually, on the path towards equity.
TORONTO, March 31, 2023 — Every Tuesday this April, women will pay less than men for select menu items at Toronto cafes and bake shops participating in the latest initiative by Girls E-Mentorship (GEM), to support closing the gap towards equity. The #GEMGirls4Equity campaign kicks off on Equal Pay Day, Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
In Canada, that average gender pay gap is currently at 11 cents on the dollar; that is, women make 89 cents for every dollar men make[1]. This year, in Ontario, April 4 symbolizes how far into the year, on average, a woman must work to make the equal amount to a man’s earnings the previous year.
The #GEMGirls4Equity campaign draws attention to gender pay inequity, as well as to the work GEM does to advance young women through its mentorship program, offered annually to hundreds of high school girls across the GTA.
The campaign currently includes five businesses, with a combined 11 locations across the city. Women will benefit onTuesdays—April 4, 11, 18, 25—with a gap-closing price for highlight food and beverage items, from smoothies to cupcakes. As an example, on every Tuesday in April, a woman-identifying customer can order any smoothie or smoothie bowl at Greenhouse to save 11 per cent, which means she’d pay $11.08 for the popular Rococao smoothie, while a man will pay the regular price of $12.45.
The businesses participating in the campaign will vary weekly. To date, those include: Bobbette & Belle, Butter & Spice, Greenhouse, Maman and OrganicBytes. In addition to the offers in-store, some have online order options. (See below for details on offers and dates available.) More participants will be revealed through April. Updates to be posted at girlsementorship.com/post/equal-pay-day-2023.
“Our ‘GemGirls4Equity’ campaign is about engaging the public in a way that easily conveys that we’re still not there as far as equity,” said Rochelle de Goais Jackman, Founder and Chair of the Board, Girls E-Mentorship, which launched in 2012. “While there are many layers to the inequities, the gender pay gap is a quantifiable one that hits hard and underscores the ongoing work to be done to advance women. That includes opening the door to equal opportunities, expanding access and networks from a young age, through formal mentorship—exactly what we offer through GEM.”
The gap impacts all life stages.Girls 12 to 18 experience a summer job gender pay gap.[2] Notable too, is that the gender pay gap is worse for those who face multiple barriers, such asracialized women, Indigenous women, and women with disabilities.
De Goais-Jackman added, “We’ve gone from serving 25, to a cohort of 300 high school girls—many who face greater inequities due to socio-economic barriers—and with that, we have an increased demand for mentors. So, we’re thrilled to have some favourite spots in Toronto support our mission, as we grow our reach, guiding and uplifting more young women on a proven path to advancement with dedicated mentorship, anchored by robust and multi-faceted programming. ”
Current list of Toronto cafes and bake shops participating in the #GEMGirls4Equity campaign, and highlight menu items for Tuesdays in April
Butter& Spice – Tuesdays April 4th and 11th
6 Brownie Pack $22.50 for women | $25for men
In-person at 1418 Dundas St West(within Death in Venice Gelato)
+ online orders [enter discount code:EQUALPAY]
IG @butterandspicebakeshop | butterandspice.ca
Greenhouse – Tuesday, April 4th and 11th
All smoothie and smoothie bowls at11% savings for women | men pay regular price
Offer available in person at all 7Toronto locations (See website for addresses.)
IG @greenhousejuice | greenhouse.ca
Maman Toronto – Tuesday, April 4th and 11th
All cookies in-store $4.00 for women |$4.50 for men
100 King StreetWest, First Canadian Place (upper level)
IG@_mamannyc_ | mamannyc.com
OrganicBytes – Tuesday,4th and 11th
‘Calming Water’ theme Cake – 4”, 6”, 8” sizes, from $72. 21 for women | $89for men
Order 12:00AM ET to 11:59PM ET April4 [enter discount code: GEM11]
IG @organic_bytes_cakes | shoporganicbytes.com
“We sincerely thank these businesses for helping elevate awareness for the work we do, leading to transformational results for an ever-growing group of GEM girls, who move on better equipped to succeed with more knowledge and greater confidence,” noted Wendy Sung-Aad , Executive Director, GirlsE-Mentorship “The scale of our mentorship program has grown exponentially, and we’ve now extended beyond Toronto, to school boards in Durham, York and Hamilton the next school year. That means we are also welcoming mentors from broader regions.”
Visit this link for updates and to learn more about the campaign. Follow @girlsementorship.
About GEM
Girls E-Mentorship (GEM) is a Top 100 rated charity offering a career mentorship program for high school girls in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, facing socioeconomic barriers, to build their professional skills and achieve their academic and career potential. The GEM program helps girls between the ages of 14-17 break through barriers to success, by connecting them with a female adult mentor for a 9-month mentorship relationship. By providing these young women with one-on-one mentorship, skill-building workshops, enrichment opportunities, scholarships, and internships, GEM offers a transformative experience that empowers success for girls long after high school graduation.
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Media, for more information, to bookinterviews or request images, please contact:
Candice Best at BEST PR Co., info@bestprco.com, 416.525.1332
[2] GirlGuides of Canada, 2018 via canadianwomen.org