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2025 marks 40 years since LEAF’s founding in 1985.
Since then, LEAF’s involvement in cases has contributed to landmark victories on discrimination, consent law, reproductive rights, parental benefits, spousal support, pension and retirement benefits, pay equity, sexual violence, survivors’ equality, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and workplace rights.
Whether in the workplace, at home, in the hospital, at school, or in the courtroom, the LEAF movement has defended and advanced women’s rights and gender justice.
To LEAF supporters, members, staff, advocates, volunteers, partners, and allies—thank you for being part of the ongoing fight for gender justice.
Together, we’ll make gender equality a reality in Canada.
LEAF is founded
On April 17, 1985, section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – the provision guaranteeing equality rights – came into force. Together with section 28, which guarantees all of the rights within the Charter equally to “male and female persons”, section 15 forms the basis for the Charter-enshrined rights to women’s equality and gender equality. These provisions were enshrined in our Charter thanks to the tireless work of many of LEAF’s Founding Mothers.
LEAF was founded on the same day section 15 came into force, and that year we launched no less than three Charter challenges.
1985
Fighting for married women to keep their maiden names
Bertrand v. The Commissioner of the Yukon Territory was the first LEAF-sponsored case, where LEAF supported arguments that the provision in the Yukon Change of Name Act denying married women the right to change their surnames was unconstitutional. The Yukon Supreme Court agreed and struck down the provision at issue, and Yukon women were allowed to keep their maiden names after marriage.
1985
Advocating for care workers’ economic security
Chittenden, Villanueva, and the Toronto Organization for Domestic Workers’ Rights v. Ontario, a LEAF-sponsored case, challenged the constitutionality of sections of Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, which excluded domestic workers—overwhelmingly immigrant women—from many employment protections given to other workers. Following the launch of this challenge, the Ontario extended minimum wage and overtime pay protections to domestic workers.
Our solidarity with care workers continues today with the Valuing the Care Economy Project. The project will identify what reforms to our social protection systems are needed to address the undervaluation of care work, in domains including labour standards and enforcement, immigration, and social welfare.
1986
FEMINIST ADVOCACY THAT PERSISTED FOR DECADES — AND CONTINUES TODAY
View the full timeline of key moments in LEAF’s history, including landmark decisions in numerous feminist issue areas, movement-building moments, organizational transformations, and more.
To learn more, read a summary of LEAF’s current work.
1987-2025
View the full timeline
LEAF monthly supporters play a crucial role in sustaining vital feminist legal interventions, public education, and law reform across Canada.
In these times where women’s, trans peoples’, girls’, mothers’, and gender and sexual diversity rights are being increasingly jeopardized, the kind of legal challenges and action that LEAF undertakes is critical. These issues are dear to me, and so I was happy and privileged to be able to contribute modestly to your mission.
Aurore, Montréal
There are very few national feminist organizations in Canada, and fewer still that fight in the courts to ensure women’s equality rights are considered when legal decisions are made. I believe that LEAF’s work is more necessary than ever.
Elizabeth Shilton
From Calgary to St. John’s, LEAF has local member branches that advance gender equality in communities across Canada.
LEAF’s grassroots, volunteer-driven branches are collections of law students, lawyers, activists, and academics who deliver educational programming, host advocacy events, build local connections with other gender equality seek organizations, and respond to community-level equality issues. Learn more about LEAF branches and join one today.
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40 years ago, the Founding Mothers recognized that ensuring the inclusion of the equality provision in the Charter was just a first step on the path to gender equality. The implementation, interpretation and defence of equality rights would require ongoing advocacy.
LEAF was born to do just that, with deeply committed feminists both initiating and driving the work forward.
LEAF’S FOUNDERS
Jennie Abell
Denise Arsenault
Beth Atcheson
Flora Buchan
Patricia Cooper
Daphne Dumont
Mary Eberts
Halyna Freeland
Dale Gibson
Nancy Ruth
Helene LeBel
Gayle MacDonald
Shauna MacKenzie
Marilou McPhedran
Sylvia Neschokat
Brigid O’Reilly
Yvonne Peters
Eve Roberts
Loretta Scott
Magda Seydegart
Lynn Smith
Eloise Spitzer
Donna Stephania
Beth Symes
Susan Tanner
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Shelagh Day
Christie Jefferson
Joanne St Lewis
Jane Craig
Pat Paradis
Jane Rounthwaite
Nancy Radclyffe
Ellen Mary Mills
Renata Harvey
Audrey Johnson
Sheryl Hoshizaki
Marilyn Roycroft
Diane O’Reggio
Hailee Morrison
Shaun O’Brien
Elizabeth Shilton
Meghan Stephens
Pam Hrick
