A national initiative is giving Canadian organizations a free resource to build mentorship programs that address the barriers women face in the workplace, particularly in male-dominated industries.

Mentor Me Equal launched last week as a self-paced, interactive toolkit developed by Mentor Canada and Mentorat Québec, with financial backing from Women and Gender Equality Canada. The online resource walks organizations through designing, implementing, and evaluating mentorship programs aimed at making workplaces more inclusive. Tracy Luca-Huger, executive director of Mentor Canada, said research shows mentorship can be transformative for career advancement and breaking down systemic barriers.

The toolkit is available in English and French at no cost for employers, professional associations, institutions, unions, and other organizations. Jennifer Petrela, executive director of Mentorat Québec, said the resource provides practical tools to advance careers and address barriers, especially in workplaces where women have historically been underrepresented.

A pilot phase last fall showed that organizations wanted structured approaches to support talent development and retention, strengthen workplace culture, and build leadership capacity. The organizations that tested the toolkit saw it as a way to make a real difference within their teams while contributing to broader efforts around women's economic security.