Connecting for Action: Gender-Based Violence
and Leadership in Nova Scotia

May 26 - 27, 2026 | Mount Saint Vincent University

In partnership with the Nancy’s Chair in Women’s Studies at MSVU, the Alexa McDonough Institute, Be the Peace Institute & the Violence & Harassment in Politics Working Group, and the PEI Coalition on Women’s Leadership hosted a two-day conference on GBV in leadership across political, academic and advocacy spaces.

Some of the topics we explored across the research and lived experiences connected to:

🔹 Harassment and violence in politics and leadership positions faced by women and gender-diverse leaders in academia and advocacy

🔹 Legislatures and council spaces as workplaces-- safety and systemic barriers

🔹Online abuse and the rise of misogynistic tech facilitated GBV

🔹The importance of mentorship, allyship, and community support

🔹How critical representation of diverse candidates and voices is to our democratic process

🔹 And the importance of mentorship, allyship, and community support

Check out:

🔹 some media coverage from the event,

🔹 the full program of events (below),

🔹 photos from the two days, and

🔹 stay tuned for more takeaways and strategies for action!