Happy Canada Day! Today is more than just a sunny day off – it’s also a time to recognize the great things about being Canadian. To celebrate Canada’s birthday, we checked in with 4 girls from our very own Because I am a Girl Speakers’ Bureau. We asked them what it means to be a girl in Canada, and why they are proud to be a girl in Canada.

1. Hana

To me, being a girl in Canada means that I can: Guide and support other girls. I can Inspire others. I am able to Rely on the fact that I am an equal, and I will always Love myself

2. Jasmit

Back in India, the education of boys is more valued than girls, because boys are culturally portrayed as the bread earners. To be a girl in Canada means that I am able to break free from these cultural norms and pursue a career. I am proud to be a girl in Canada because when I compare myself with girls back in India, I have been given the gift of equal opportunity to achieve my dreams, irrespective of my gender.

3. Diviya

As a girl in Canada, I think the most important aspect is that we have equal rights and freedoms as boys. I am proud to be a girl in Canada because I have the right to education without any fear of punishment or my safety. If Diviya looks familiar to you, that’s because we’ve featured her in our blog before! Watch her inspiring speech about girls’ rights.

4. Steffanie

Being a girl in Canada means we still have a long way to go. We still need to fight for equal pay for equal work, and to help abolish double standards for men and women. I am proud to be a girl in Canada because of where our plight has brought us today. Women are not owned by their husbands or fathers, and have control of their bodies and reproductive rights.

Survey results on gender equality for Girls' in Canada

Plan International Canada conducted a survey of 1,000 Canadian girls in 2018, which examined the attitudes, behaviours and experiences of girls within a range of settings.

The data reveals just how ‘normal’ sexual harassment, gender discrimination and insecurity continue to be for girls across Canada such as the workplace, public places, and in the home.

More than seven in ten Canadian girls feel they face gender-based discrimination

Three in four Canadian girls report experiencing gender-based discrimination; two in three have a female friend who has been sexually harassed A majority of Canadian girls report they feel discriminated against because of their gender. Two in three Canadian girls report having a female friend who experienced sexual harassment, with one in three who say they have not. Only 16 per cent report feeling completely safe in public spaces. 

More than eight in ten Canadian girls say they are hopeful or somewhat hopeful about the progress of gender equality in Canada – Over four in five Canadian girls say they are hopeful (38%) or somewhat hopeful (45%) about the progress of gender equality in Canada, while one in ten say they are somewhat not hopeful (eight per cent) or not hopeful (three per cent). Five per cent are unsure. 

Read more of the results from Plan International's 2018 Gender Equality report.