Girls Across Canada to Solve Community Problems with Technology Solutions for National Girls Learning Code Day

For immediate release: May 6, 2019

TORONTO – Girls across Canada will take part in the 6^th annual National Girls Learning Code Day on May 11 and learn how to use technology to solve problems in their community. The daytime interactive coding workshops for girls aged 9-12 will be hosted in over 35 communities and feature leading tech sector role models as mentors. This year’s theme for #glcCodeDay is innovation and entrepreneurship.

“As technology will only increasingly power the way we solve problems and share ideas with one another, it is crucial we introduce young girls to coding and empower them to be a part of Canada’s digital future,” said Melissa Sarrifodeen, CEO of Canada Learning Code.

Girls will be challenged to think about problems they want to solve, experiences or products they wish existed, and learn to use code to build their own websites for their solutions. They will be joined by their parents or guardians for a fun-filled day of discovery and development.

Closing The Gender Gap

In addition to learning technical skills, a focus on entrepreneurship is important to help young girls develop the skills needed to be successful including: effective problem solving, learning from failure, allowing kids to make decisions, fostering creativity, and fostering leadership.

These are important to develop at an early age as the gender gap persists today in the fast-growing tech sector. Female founders only received 2.2 per cent of $130 billion in venture capital (VC) funding in 2018. The number of deals completed by female founders is growing, though the percentage of money going to these companies remains stagnant as the total amount of VC investment increases (PitchBook).

Media are welcome to come be a part of Girls Learning Code Day all across Canada and learn more about the importance of learning digital skills at an early age while being wowed by what girls can build in a day. Visit http://girlslearningcodeday.com to learn more.

The 6th Annual Girls Learning Code Day is Presented by:

A word from Scotiabank

“Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank’s goal is to help ensure that they have the guidance, confidence and tools they need to achieve their dreams and reach their infinite potential,” said Jacquie Ryan, Vice President Social Enterprise at Scotiabank. “As an organization we know that how we support young people today, can prepare them for tomorrow, and that’s why Scotiabank is a proud sponsor of Girls Learning Code Day. Investing in young people is the pathway to community prosperity and Scotiabank and its employees are committed to helping to enrich the lives of young people and their communities.”

A word from Sun Life Financial

“At Sun Life, we’re committed to attracting more women in technology to support diversity in the workplace,” said Alice Thomas, Chief Digital Technology Officer at Sun Life Financial. “We’re proud to sponsor events such as Girls Learning Code Day that align with that focus, and introduce young girls to the exciting possibilities that a career in tech can bring.”

About Canada Learning Code

Canada Learning Code is a leading national charity championing digital literacy education, working nation-wide and across all sectors to equip Canadians with technical skills. To date, the organization has taught over 260,000 learners through an in-person experience, which are offered in over 35 cities across the country. Technical skills are a tool of empowerment, and it is the organization’s mission to ensure that all Canadians – particularly those who are currently underrepresented in the tech sector – have access to learn these critical skills and be active participants in the digital age.

Twitter:@learningcode  Instagram:@learningcode  Facebook:@canadalearningcode

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Media Contact: Jamie Ellerton press@canadalearningcode.ca | 416.639.6090