Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Project

Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay is one of twenty clinics funded by the Department of Justice Canada under the Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (SHIW) project. This project is designed to increase public awareness and knowledge about SHIW.

There are three primary objectives of the SHIW project. The first is to educate low-income and vulnerable individuals as well as employers in Thunder Bay on their rights and responsibilities in the workplace by hosting public legal education sessions. The second is to provide legal information on sexual harassment in the workplace, human rights, and other employment rights by coordinating efficient materials and resources. The third is to provide referral options in accordance with a client’s needs. Read more about the project below.

If you have been sexually harassed in the course of your work and you reside within the district of Thunder Bay, please contact Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic to learn more about your legal rights.

Objectives

1. To educate low-income and vulnerable clients on their legal rights in regard to sexual harassment in the workplace
2. To provide legal information to low income and vulnerable clients on sexual harassment in the workplace, including information and advice on human rights and other employment rights
3. To coordinate responses and materials and resources across legal clinics in Ontario around the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace

Who will directly benefit from this project?

• Complainants of workplace sexual harassment
• General public particularly within the district of Thunder Bay
• Underserved or vulnerable populations, such as those who are more at risk of gender-based violence and/or who are facing barriers to accessing services (These include but are not limited to: ethno-cultural minority women, LGBTQ2 communities and gender-non-binary persons, non-status/ refugee/ immigrant women, persons living in northern, rural and remote communities, Indigenous communities, persons living with a disability, seasonal and temporary workers)

How will the SHIW project reach the target population?

The target population will include vulnerable sectors, including workers in low-wage and/or precarious jobs; those who provide personal services (e.g. homecare health aide) or rely on tips; women, especially those who work in male-dominated industries; youth; Indigenous and racialized women; persons with disabilities; those who identify as LGBTQ2S+; and newcomer women. Reaching the Target Audiences (young workers, new comers, employees and low income, etc.) will be achieved through contact with high schools, employment training facilities, social service agencies and other agencies that support newcomers and low-income residents. 

Key tasks to fulfill the objectives

• Develop and deliver public legal education (PLE) webinars on sexual harassment in the workplace. This includes preparing posters, PowerPoints, promotional material and other resources related to the PLE session.
• Spread awareness of the project and expand the audience by posting relevant information about SHIW on social media accounts.
• Attend regular Community of Practice Meetings with other SHIW members to discuss the projects progress and share ideas with each other.
• Meet with community agencies to establish partnerships.
• Complete monthly activity and expense reports to keep track of the monthly progress and to ensure a unified approach throughout the clinics participating in the SHIW project.
• Mail out brochures and/or letters informing individuals around Thunder Bay about the SHIW project.
• Attend seminars and/or training to improve own knowledge and to stay up to date with the law around SHIW.
• Prepare intake forms that may help legal worker address a client’s needs.
• Utilize funding for the SHIW project to expand it
• Prepare quarterly progress reports to update the Board of Directors on the SHIW project’s progress