Gender equity & 2SLGBTQIA+ resources

Training and education is available through a variety of post-secondary options - from apprenticeships to university programs.

• WorkBC - Training and Education

StudentAid BC helps British Columbians with the cost of post-secondary education through student loans, grants and scholarships. There are also programs that help with loan repayment. Sixty-one per cent of student loans are held by women and Budget 2019 eliminated the interest to make post-secondary education more affordable.

• StudentAid BC

Expanding women’s access to education and training in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is encouraged through programs and funding including scholarships for women.

• Women in Science and Technology
• Learn about Women in Technology and Aboriginal Women in Technology scholarships
• Achieve Anything Foundation

Everyone has a sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). It's an inclusive term that applies to everyone, whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, heterosexual or cisgender (identifying with the same gender that one was assigned at birth).

• Visit SOGI 123 to learn more about SOGI-inclusive education in B.C.'s K-12 schools

In B.C., public health insurance is called the Medical Services Plan (MSP). It covers the cost of medically-necessary insured doctor services.

• Visit BC Medical Services Plan

• Access PharmaCare

HealthLink BC provides reliable non-emergency health information and advice in British Columbia.

• View more information at HealthLink BC

Learn more about:

• Health authorities in B.C.
• First Nations Health Authority

Access help and resources through the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC

• View mental health and substance use resources
• Find more information and connect with key resources at here to help

• Access resources for B.C.'s child and youth welfare

• View information at British Columbia Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS 

The government is taking action to ensure that gender diverse British Columbians are recognized in a respectful way and have access to programs and services that meet their needs.

A new, third option enables gender diverse people to choose “X” on their provincial government identification, rather than only male or female.

• Request new B.C. government ID

As a B.C. resident you are required to keep your personal information current.

There are a few life events that could require an update to your personal information – getting married or divorced, legally changing your name, moving, or changing your gender.

• Learn how to change your personal information
• Why you need ID and keeping ID safe

Service BC provides front line support for many of the hundreds of programs and services the provincial government offers to residents, businesses and visitors.

• View Services BC for more information

Access a list of services in B.C.

Access information on housing: 

• BC Housing
  • Emergency Shelter Program
  • Homeless Prevention Program
• Staying Safe
• Shelters and Housing

View information about Residential Tenancies in B.C.

Legal Aid can help eligible British Columbians throughout the province navigate the justice system including in areas such as family, criminal and immigration law. Find out how you can access legal aid:

• Legal Aid 

B.C.’s Human Rights Commission has been re-established to promote a more inclusive and just society for all British Columbians. Under certain circumstances, British Columbians can make a complaint to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal if they feel their human rights are not being protected.

• BC Human Rights Tribunal

Access the online Civil Resolutions Tribunal

Learn more about Small Claims Court  

• Justice access centres   

• Hate Crime BC 
• Hate has no place in B.C. additional resources

• Report child abuse 

View information on How to marry in BC 

Access health information on:

• HealthLink BC's Gender Identity and Transgender Issues
• Vancouver Coastal Health 2SLGBTQIA+

View information at BC Children's Hospital 

Expanded public funding is improving access to transgender health services, including for gender-affirming surgeries.

Find out more at Trans Care BC about:

• Gender-affirming surgeries
• Hormone therapy

Visit BC Cancer for a list of resources

The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in B.C.’s Public Service Agency ensures our public service reflects the diversity of British Columbians.

• Words Matter (PDF) is an inclusive language guide for use within the workplace

Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) ensure that women, youth and Indigenous peoples will have access to employment, training and apprenticeship opportunities on major infrastructure projects.

• Find out how you can work on a CBA infrastructure project through British Columbia Infrastructure Benefits 

Women make up a disproportionately large number of minimum wage workers. To help close the pay gap and enable everyone to pay for basic necessities, the minimum wage is being raised.

• Minimum wage - Find information for employees and employers in B.C.

A variety of programs and resources specifically provide help for women who are looking for employment, ranging from mentoring in business development to training in the trades.

• WorkBC - resources for women

Read about how the B.C. Public Service supports transgender and gender diverse employees in the workplace (PDF)

Better access to childcare will help more people, especially women, obtain work, advance their career or pursue post-secondary education.

The Affordable Child Care Benefit helps all families earning up to $111,000 saving them up to $15,000 per year, per child.

• Childcare BC
• Affordable Child Care Benefit

More than 900,000 job openings are expected in B.C. by 2028 and gender equity is essential in keeping B.C.’s economy diverse, strong and growing.

Find a job or career:

• WorkBC
• B.C. public service

Public sector organizations such as agencies, Crowns and boards are created to provide programs and services on behalf of the B.C. government. British Columbians are being asked to step forward and help ensure public sector boards reflect the diversity of the province.

• Serve on a public sector board

In March 2019, the Province released TogetherBC: British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. TogetherBC sets the Province’s path to reducing overall poverty by 25% and child poverty by 50% in five years.

The Survivors of Violence and/or Abuse program provides skills training and employment supports to overcome barriers to employment

• WorkBC - Survivors of Violence and/or Abuse

Access My Self Serve to help you apply for assistance

Tens of thousands of people are directly affected by violence against them just because of who they are. There are supports to help individuals who face gender-based violence and each of us can play a role in helping to end it.

For more information visit the Ending Gender Based Violence page.

• ​Victim service and violence against women programs
  The Province supports more than 400 victim service and violence against women programs across B.C., including community-based victim services programs; police-based victim service programs; Stopping the Violence counselling programs; outreach programs; multicultural outreach programs; and prevention, education, advocacy, counselling and empowerment (PEACE) programs. Read more about the work being done by these programs.
   
• Staying safe and supports for people impacted by crime
  For information about staying safe and supports for people impacted by crime, including gender-based violence, sexual assault and domestic violence.
   
• VictimLinkBC
  VictimLinkBC is a toll-free, confidential multilingual service available across B.C. and Yukon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone, email or text.
   
• Information on gender-based violence, sexual assault, and domestic violence
  For information on gender-based violence, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
   
• Child and youth advocacy centres
  In B.C., there are 10 child and youth advocacy centres, which provide a coordinated approach to child abuse investigations. Read more about child and youth advocacy centres.
   
• Women’s transition housing
  Women’s Transition Housing and Supports Program.
   
• Information on counselling services
  Low-cost and no-cost community counselling services are available here through B.C.
   
• Leave for domestic or sexual violence
  Read more about paid leave for employees impacted by domestic or sexual violence.
   
• Skills training for survivors
  Read more about skills training for employment program for survivors of violence and/or abuse.

• Violence is preventable program for K-12 Students
  Violence is Preventable is a free, confidential, school-based violence prevention program for students in grades K-12. Presentations are delivered by Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) Program counsellors.  Read more about the work being done by this program.
   
• B.C.’s physical and health education curriculum
  B.C.’s physical and health education curriculum engages kindergarten to grade 10 students in learning about a variety of age-appropriate sexual health topics. Supporting student health guides provide teachers with a variety of instructional suggestions for teaching important health topics, including consent. Read more about B.C.'s physical and health education curriculum
   
• Respectful futures for school-aged children and youth
  Respectful futures is a set of online resources for educators and community facilitators to provide school-aged children and youth with tools to develop healthy and respectful relationships (friendships, romantic, family and community).
   
• Sexualized violence policies at B.C. public post-secondaries
  Read more about sexualized violence policies at all B.C. public post-secondary institutions.
   
• B.C. post-secondary consent awareness campaign
  The “…Is Not Yes” consent awareness campaign features social media content, digital ads, and on-campus posters to increase awareness about sexualized violence prevention and available supports for post-secondary students. The campaign runs during the fall and spring semesters. Read more about this campaign.
   
• Sexualized violence prevention and training resources for B.C. post-secondaries
  The sexualized violence prevention and training resources are a series of resources developed in partnership with B.C. campus and public post-secondary institutions. These materials and facilitation guides are designed to support the implementation of training on awareness and prevention for students and staff at post-secondary institutions.
   
• Be more than a bystander
  Be more than a bystander is a partnership between the BC Lions and the Ending Violence Association of B.C. Sport icons from the BC Lions leverage their public profile to create awareness and urge everyone to “Break the silence on violence against women.” 
   
• The B.C. centre for women in the trades
  The B.C. centre for women in the trades partnered with ending violence association of B.C. to customize their be more than a bystander program for the skilled trades industry. This model engages men to take ownership and play an active role in ending gender-based bullying, harassment and violence. Read more about this program.
   
• The moosehide campaign
  The moosehide campaign is an indigenous-led grassroots movement of men, boys and all Canadians standing up to end violence against women and children.
   
• B.C. bus north
  BC Bus North provides safe travel in northern B.C.
   
• Programs for perpetrators of violence
  The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General provides program funding for perpetrators of violence, to provide conflict resolution skills and prevent further abuse or violence.
  These programs include: