At its Biennial Conventions as well as Annual General Meetings, BPW Canada members occasionally approve Commendations for individuals and/or organizations that support our mission and mandate and work to help move our agenda forward.
Child Care Now – commends Child Care Now for their unwavering advocacy and commitment to affordable, accessible, inclusive, and high-quality childcare; advancing human rights for children, women, and families in all their diversity.
Dr. Martha Paynter – commends Dr. Martha Paynter for her past, current and forthcoming work in reproductive health, reproductive rights, and reproductive justice for all women in Canada.
Government of Canada – commends the Government of Canada for its historic contribution to establish a national early learning and child care system, advancing the social and economic rights of women, children, and their families.
My Voice My Choice – commends the victim-complainants of My Voice My Choice for their dedication in pursuing changes to Section 486.4 of the Criminal Code of Canada, and in participating in the development of Bill S-12, which now allows all victims of sexual assault in Canada to have a voice and a choice over the use of a publication ban on their name in a sexual assault trial.
BPW Canada acknowledges and commends Lisa LaFlamme for her remarkable leadership and mentorship, for informing, educating and empowering others and for her dedication to shining a light on the darkness and helping to make positive changes in the domains of equality, democracy and humanity, especially for women and girls.
BPW Canada acknowledges and commends Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne for her commitment and dedication to the protection of Canadian children
Dr. Theresa Tam – acknowledges and commends Dr. Theresa Tam for her leadership role in guiding Canadians through the Covid-19 pandemic, keeping them informed and updated as the pandemic progresses and the science evolves, as well as her work with Provincial Health Officers on the mass immunization program needed to protect Canadians.
Equal Voice: Daughters of the Vote, Getting to the Gate, Systemic Change – acknowledges and commends Equal Voice for their three initiatives: Getting to the Gate Guidebook, Daughters of the Vote program and Gender-Sensitive Legislature Report.
Chief Commissioner Marie Claude Landry – commends Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) Marie-Claude Landry for her lifelong humanitarian effort, compassion and perseverance in denouncing systemic racism and discrimination, and advocating for the human rights of women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2S+, radicalized people, those living in poverty, prisoners and many more.
At the 2020 Virtual National Convention, members approved the following commendation:
BPW Canada acknowledges and commends the groundbreaking work of Senator Yvonne Boyer in bringing awareness of the issue of coerced and forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada; educating government, health professionals and Indigenous women; and working to find solutions to abolish this practice.
At the 2019 National AGM in Montreal, Quebec, members approved the following commendations:
At the 2018 National Convention in Ottawa, ON, members approved the following commendations:
At the National AGM in Greater Moncton, NB, members approved the following commendation:
BPW Canada commends the cities of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Edmonton, Alberta for joining the United Nations’ Women’s Global Flagship Initiative “Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces.” Each city’s efforts in ending sexual violence so that women and girls can feel safe and live free of violence demonstrate leadership on this important issue for other Canadian cities to follow.
At the 2016 BPW Canada Convention members approved the following commendations:
At the 2015 BPW Canada AGM members approved the following commendations:
At the 2014 National Convention in Saskatoon, SK, members approved the following commendation:
BPW Canada commends the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and its Standing Committee on Increasing Women’s Participation in Municipal Government for its work in raising awareness of and seeking support to ensure women make up 30% of municipal councils by 2026.
At the 2013 BPW Canada AGM, held virtually, members approved the following Commendation:
To Alaina Podmorrow and the organization “Little Women for Little Women Afghanistan” for the selfless work in raising awareness of human rights abuse of girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban, who refuse to allow girls an education, and for fundraising almost $400,000 to help pay for teachers and education supplies.
At the 2012 BPW Canada Convention, in London, Ontario, members approved three commendations.
At the 2011 BPW Canada AGM in Ottawa, Ontario members approved three commendations.
At its 2008 Convention in Winnipeg, BPW Canada members approved a commendation.
Commended Louise Arbour, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, for her life-long efforts in advocating for human rights, including full gender equality, for the expansion of human rights presence around the world and for being instrumental in doubling the UN High Commissioner’s office’s annual budget to $100 million.
Grand Master Tae Eun Lee of Ottawa, Ontario, for promoting the development of strong and healthy spirits minds and bodies of women through women’s self-defense classes in the City of Ottawa. In this endeavour they enhance Canadian society by teaching self-defense measures that build the confidence of women in their own safety and well-being. BPW Virtual Club’s Crystal Sissons made the presentation.
At the 2006 National Convention members approved the following commendations:
Dove Canada for its support of the National Eating Disorder Information Centre and of the Quebec Association for assistance to persons suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and for its efforts, through its advertising campaign “Campaign for Real Beauty,” to encourage positive self-esteem in women and girls.
