More than March 8.
Since supporting the success of women deserves a year-round commitment,
International Women’s Day isn’t just one day for us.
We ally on for women
Creating change takes commitment. Scotiabank is committed to dismantling barriers and advancing equity for diverse women every day of the year.
Change starts from within
We’re committed to supporting diverse women employees.
Celebrating our diversity and fostering inclusion
Scotiabank believes in creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We actively support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)—grassroots initiatives that celebrate our diversity and foster inclusion for diverse women and other equity deserving groups. These womens groups operate globally; they help advance Scotiabank’s global Diversity Equity and Inclusion strategy and help guide the bank in increasing inclusion for people that identify as women in our marketplace and workplace
We prioritize the development and advancement of our women.
Women make up 54 per cent of our global workforce, and Scotiabank is committed to creating a work culture where women are supported to succeed and reach their fullest potential. From recognition on The Globe and Mail’s Women Lead Here list as best-in-class for executive gender diversity in corporate Canada being an active contributor to the UN Global Compact Canada’s Blueprint for Gender Equality, we are prioritizing equality and inclusion of women across the Bank.
Our global diversity commitments
Scotiabank is committed to building an inclusive workforce by increasing the representation of women in senior leadership roles (VP+) to 40 percent globally by 2025. In 2022, 38 per cent of Vice Presidents and above globally are women. In Canada 42 per cent of Vice President roles are held by women.
A new global standard for parental leave
Scotiabank has set a new global standard for parental leave which includes eight fully paid weeks for all parents welcoming a new child and eight additional fully paid weeks for parents who have given birth. This new standard has been introduced in Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos and others. By 2025, this new standard will be implemented for Scotiabank employees in 24 countries across the Bank's footprint including Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and more.
How we’re driving equity for every future
Scotiabank continues to work together with our communities to remove barriers, increase opportunities, and improve representation for women.
Empowering women to succeed
The Scotiabank Women Initiative® is an enterprise-wide program designed to increase economic and professional opportunities for our women clients, empowering them to succeed on their own terms. It provides equitable access to financial solutions, specialized education, and inclusive, women-centric advisory services and mentorship to help people who identify as women or non-binary to pursue their best professional and financial futures.
Building economic resilience
Scotiabank has committed $500 million in community investment through ScotiaRISE, our 10-year initiative to promote economic resilience among disadvantaged groups, including women, to thrive under a range of circumstances.
To build economic resilience, ScotiaRISE will strive to make an impact in three focus areas: increasing high school graduation and post-secondary participation, helping newcomers feel at home faster, and removing barriers to career advancement for under-represented groups.
Beyond the business suit
We’re investing $900,000 in the Dress for Success Canada Foundation over three years to mentor and prepare women to navigate workplace barriers, advance their careers, and build financial stability.
Supporting economic recovery programs for women and girls
We're investing $800,000 over four years in support of the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Economic Development Program. This donation will support ten proven, high-impact programs across Canada focused on alleviating poverty and building women’s economic security.
Supporting skilled newcomers
We’re investing $2.5 million in Windmill Microlending to support programs that provide professionally skilled women immigrants with career coaching, mentoring and financial assistance designed to help women realize their professional careers in Canada.
Supporting healthcare
We’re investing $700,000 in the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto to support the Crossroads Clinic for refugees and the Women’s Virtual (Canada’s first virtual hospital).
Sponsoring women athletes
We’ve committed over $7 million since 2006 to help women and girls succeed on and off the ice through initiatives such as the Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest, the Scotiabank Community Hockey Sponsorship Program, the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association and the continued support of Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Teams.
Supporting women entrepreneurs
We’re investing $300,000 in Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology’s HELIX RISE program. This program will provide key supports for women and equity-deserving entrepreneurs.
Representing equality in marketing
We’re committed to marketing practices that are free of bias and support minority-owned suppliers. As a member of SeeHer, we advocate for and participate in the accurate portrayal of women and girls in marketing.
BC Women's Health Foundation
We committed $125,000 over 5 years to support the CervixCheck pilot project, within the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Initiative. CervixCheck was developed in British Columbia where researchers piloted a community based, culturally sensitive digital health strategy to engage underserved women in cervical cancer self-screening. Self-screening an innovative approach to cervical cancer screening has the potential to decrease barriers and improve access for the underscreened.
Capilano University Foundation
We have committed $250,000 over 3-years to support CapU in building a new Centre for Childhood Studies (CCS) in order to expand high-quality education of ECE’s in BC. It will be Western Canada’s only degree-granting, integrated Centre of Early Childhood Care and Education, research and Lab School education.
Women
We are dedicated to fostering a culture of gender equity, support, success, and empowerment for every future.