“The doctor told me, ‘You're getting your tubes tied’. Not asking me, he told me,” says Linda, not her real name, about the reproductive violence she experienced. “When I came out of the room after I signed the paper, I didn't know what I was doing. I was young … there were môniyâwskwêwak, white women, sitting there. I asked them, ‘Did you get asked to get your tubes tied?’ ‘No.’ No? I always thought, why me?”

Linda is one of a large number of Indigenous women in Canada who cannot conceive because they were sterilized without their informed consent through the medical system.

Although no confirmed figures exist on how many women are being sterilized against their will, Indigenous experts estimate that at least 12,000 women have been affected in Canada since the 1970s.

Read more about this project and how it raises awareness of reproductive violence against Indigenous women here. 

On July 25, 2024, the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) hosted its third annual event, Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening for Black Women.

Aimed at building trust and breaking barriers for Black women, who have historically been under-screened for breast and cervical cancer in Canada, the event provided a safe space for culturally-informed care. This year, the highest record of patient attendees was reached. Fifty-seven women attended the event – 39 received a pap test, 42 received a mammogram, and eight patients received an ultrasound. For the first time, risk assessments for lung cancer were available to those eligible under the Ontario Lung Screening Program.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society, TAIBU Community Health Centre, Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre, The Olive Branch of Hope, and for the first time with the University Health Network (UHN). The event included arts activities, mindfulness and yoga, blood pressure assessments, meals and refreshments, and cultural music.

Visit their website to learn how Women's College Hospital and Research Institute is building trust and breaking barriers for Black women.

On September 4th, the WHRI, in partnership with Options for Sexual Health (OPTIONS) and the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), celebrated World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) and aimed to dismantle social and cultural taboos surrounding sexuality while advocating for positive sexual health worldwide.

The theme for WSHD 2024 was Positive Relationships. The event included rapid presentations on sexual and reproductive health research conducted by students, trainees, and fellows.

Read the WHRI's recap story to learn about the significance of Positive Relationships and sexual and reproductive health. 

On October 18th, is Persons Day, which commemorates the historical 1929 high court decision that legally recognized women as "persons" in Canada. This landmark decision was championed by the courageous Famous Five: Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby, and Henrietta Muir Edwards.

This victory paved the way for women to enter Canada’s Senate — where, as of September 7, 2023, 51 out of 94 sitting members (54.4%) are women. Yet, despite legal recognition of women as people and equitable representation of women in the Canadian Senate after close to a hundred years, there is still much work to be done. 

It wasn’t until 1997 that Health Canada released guidance that promoted inclusion of women in clinical trials. The negative consequences of knowledge gaps for women’s health are enormous.

For example, heart disease is the biggest killer of Canadian women, but heart attack continues to be considered a man's disease–among the public, healthcare providers, and in much research. Men represent 80% to 90% of participants in the clinical studies shaping our diagnostic methods and treatments. As a result, women are underdiagnosed and treated less aggressively. More research is needed to develop appropriate tools to diagnose and treat women.  

On Persons Day, PWHR not only applauds the progress that has been made but also calls for increased investment in female-specific and women’s health research. Today is a time to commemorate the valuable efforts of the Famous Five and all those who have fought for equal representation, health equity, women’s rights, and gender equality. 

To learn about the Government of Canada’s most recent investment in funding women’s heart and brain health research, visit here: https://bit.ly/CIHR_HeartHealth 

Learn more about this inspiring day and the steps forward: https://bit.ly/PersonsDay2024