At Windmill Microlending, our female clients who are seeking credential recognition increase their earnings by 3.8x and women in healthcare professions nearly quadruple their incomes. By breaking financial barriers, we empower newcomer women to achieve prosperity and economic independence.
March 8, 2025
Every year on March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day—a day to recognize the achievements of women worldwide and advocate for gender equality. International Women’s Day is also a time to acknowledge the resilience, strength and contributions of immigrant women to Canada.
Immigrant women have long played a vital role in Canada’s growth and success, contributing diverse perspectives, skills and experiences that enrich our nation. Today, countless immigrant women across the country are building businesses, serving communities and driving innovation in science, technology and healthcare.
However, it’s a sad fact that despite their contributions, immigrant women continue to experience economic disparities. According to Statistics Canada, immigrant women earn significantly less than their male counterparts, with some estimates indicating a wage gap of over 20%. This wage gap is even more pronounced for racialized immigrant women, who often face additional systemic barriers in employment, including underemployment in roles that fail to fully utilize their skills and experience.
Newcomer women also often face the dual challenge of integrating into Canadian society while managing family care responsibilities, making it difficult to pursue education or career advancement opportunities. Facing multiple barriers, many immigrant women end up feeling isolated in their new communities.
At Windmill Microlending, we empower immigrant women by providing financial resources and guidance to help them overcome barriers to credential recognition, training and recertification, enabling them to secure meaningful employment. By offering a means to overcome systemic barriers, we help lift immigrant women out of poverty and support their journey toward economic security.
We are proud to have supported thousands of immigrant women, helping them, on average, triple their incomes from the time they take out a loan to when they complete repayment. For women seeking credential recognition to return to their trained professions, this income multiplier rises to 3.8x. Many of the women Windmill supports work in healthcare—a sector facing critical labour shortages in Canada. Helping them re-enter the workforce sooner benefits both our clients and our communities.
With such powerful results, we envision a future where more immigrant women lead healthier, happier and fulfilling lives. By boosting their financial independence and self-confidence, we create a ripple effect that benefits future generations, uplifting immigrant women sets entire families on a path to prosperity.
Windmill is a women-founded, women-led organization, with 73% women on our leadership team. Today, and every day, we celebrate the perseverance and achievements of all immigrant women in Canada.
Happy International Women’s Day!
