Save the Date:
Thursday, April 23, 2026
5:45 – 9 p.m.
The Carlu, 444 Yonge St #7, Toronto, ON
An Evening for Equality is LEAF’s signature annual fundraising event. Thanks to our sponsors, LEAF raised over $422,000 to advance gender equality at our event in 2025. The funds raised through sponsorships help us continue to intervene in significant court cases, engage in law reform, and deliver public legal education to advance the equality rights of women, girls, trans, and non-binary people. More than ever, we need gender equality and justice for all.
We have an exciting evening planned with an esteemed keynote speaker, reception and dinner at The Carlu in Tkarón:to. This land is governed by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, a nation-to-nation peace agreement between the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, the Wendat, and other allied nations. We are honoured to be able to host this event on this land.
We look forward to once again bringing together hundreds of supporters and community members from the legal, academic, labour, and corporate sectors, who have been part of our journey. We are also thrilled to mark the occasion with new friends.
Keynote and Conversation with Senator Paulette Senior
Senator Paulette Senior has dedicated her life’s work to breaking down systemic barriers and empowering women, girls, and gender diverse folks from diverse backgrounds. She has spent over three decades as a leader in the gender equality sector, including as President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and as CEO of YWCA Canada.
Senator Senior is a leader in a variety of areas affecting women, including advancing gender equity, eliminating gender-based violence, reducing poverty, especially for women and for women-led families, closing wage gaps, and promoting the empowerment of women, girls, and gender-diverse people across Canada. She has led, managed, and operated shelters, employment and housing programs in Toronto and has served on the boards of several equality-focused organizations. She is the Vice-Chair of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council for 2025 and previously served on the council for 2022 and 2024.
Advancing gender equality
The need for LEAF’s work is as urgent as ever. Across Canada, misogyny, transphobia, and anti-migrant sentiment are moving into the mainstream, while the epidemic of gender-based violence continues unchecked.
LEAF is responding with strength and vision. We defended the rights of trans youth in Saskatchewan and are preparing to challenge Quebec’s Bill 21 at the Supreme Court. We stood with a refugee mother in Kanyinda, making clear that laws designed to promote equality must not exclude the most marginalized. In Ahluwalia, we fought for recognition of a tort of family violence—a groundbreaking step toward justice for survivors.
LEAF’s Impact 2024 – 2025
Beyond the courts, we are advocating for transformative and restorative justice options for sexual assault survivors and leading the call for a Gender-Based Violence Commissioner to confront this crisis nationally. Additionally, we continue to strengthen our public legal education program, enhancing people’s understanding of their rights and gender-based violence.
LEAF is on the front lines of defending and advancing equality. With your support, we can meet this moment and ensure that hard-won feminist gains benefit everyone.
An Evening for Equality is only possible with the generous support of our sponsors.
Your support this year will ensure that we continue our legal interventions, law reform, and legal education throughout the year. Explore our sponsorship package and contact Sharon George at [email protected] for more information.
Thank you to our 2026 Evening for Equality Sponsors!
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Partner
Lee Tak Wai Holdings Limited
Advocate
Associate
