Through $15,000 in awards and scholarships, the University of Guelph aims to support gender equity activities on campus and in the community.

The awards are part of the United Nations’ HeForShe initiative for men and people of all genders to stand in solidarity with women to create a bold, visible and united force for gender equity.

Among the awards are three student-based scholarships and an award recognizing gender equity initiatives of a local business.

The awards are funded by the Angel Gabriel Foundation and the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics.

“Supporting the HeForShe initiative is a crucial step in our mission of developing leaders for a sustainable and equitable world,” said Prof. Sara Mann, interim dean of the Lang School.

Offered along with the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, the HeForShe Impact Award recognizes gender equity initiatives of a local business that champions gender equity, leading to improvements within the organization and the community.

“The power of business to lead positive change is inspiring,” said Mann.

The recognized business or organization will have a $2,500 donation made in its name to the Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis centre.

Available to undergraduate students at U of G, the HeForShe Ally Scholarship ($2,500) recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to supporting gender equity and equality.

Now in their third year, two HeForShe Resilience Scholarships ($5,000 each) are available to women in U of G bachelor of commerce and bachelor of engineering programs at U of G. The scholarships aim to recognize the resilience and leadership of women U of G students.

“We are proud to recognize the resilience of our female students,” said Prof. Mary Wells, dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS). “Improving equity and breaking stereotypes is a key focus for engineering at Guelph, and this award is an excellent next step.”

All award winners will be recognized at the U of G’s HeForShe event on March 11, 2020.

HeForShe is an annual campus-wide event dedicated to the United Nations gender equity campaign and organized by the Lang School, CEPS and Gryphon football. Each year, an inspiring woman leader is invited to spend a day on campus to engage with students and to give a public talk about U of G’s commitment to the UN global solidarity movement for gender equity.

This year’s keynote is alumna Mary Deacon, chair of the Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative.