FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Halifax, NS [July 24, 2025] — With just one week remaining, the IWK Foundation’s groundbreaking Women’s Health Survey is seeing strong participation from women across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The survey, which launched on July 3, is the first of its kind in the region and aims to gather real, lived experiences to help close the persistent gap in women’s healthcare.
Women aged 18 and up are invited to share their personal health journeys, including their experiences across different stages of life, the challenges they’ve faced, and what they need to feel supported in their health and well-being, through an anonymous survey that will be open until July 30.
“The response is powerful and clear - women are speaking up, and they’re done waiting to be heard,” said Jennifer Gillivan, President & CEO, IWK Foundation. “This is more than a survey. It’s a movement to put women’s health where it belongs: front and centre.”
Anyone who hasn’t yet taken the survey can still do so until July 30th by visiting the survey online. Women’s voices matter and their stories can help shape a stronger, more equitable future for women’s health in our region.
The data collected will inform a report that will be released publicly in early October with actionable insights for policymakers, health leaders and community organizations. By ensuring that the lived experiences of Maritime women are at the heart of this work, the IWK Foundation aims to support and enhance ongoing efforts to make womens health a priority in care, research, and policy.
This initiative supports the IWK Foundation’s mandate and mission to educate, advocate and support women’s healthcare and research. By working in partnership with health leaders and communities, we hope to help close the gender health gap and advance women’s health as a shared priority across the region.
The IWK Foundation is a member of the Women’s Health Collective Canada (WHCC), which is comprised of five Foundations working in partnership with each other and national supporters to help prioritize women’s health research in Canada. Additionally, the IWK Foundation has contributed to the European Institute for Women’s Health (EIWH) draft Women’s Health Strategy which is expected to be presented to the European Parliament in late fall.
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ABOUT THE IWK FOUNDATION
The IWK Foundation is a champion of excellence in women and children’s healthcare and research and mental health and addictions for children and youth. The IWK Foundation is the primary fundraising organization for IWK Health, working in partnership with IWK Health to support their vision of providing quality care to women, children, youth and families in our community. The IWK is a national co-owner and partner of Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations and a member of the national Women’s Health Collective Canada.
Visit www.iwkfoundation.org for more information.
MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Slysz, IWK Foundation
nicole.slysz@iwkfoundation.org
(902) 220-6748