Who We Are

Stop the Party (STP) is a Canadian advocacy group raising awareness about the gender wage gap and pushing for systemic change. Through creative campaigns, educational resources, and public engagement, we aim to make wage equity not just an idea, but a reality.

Why We Exist

Women in Canada still earn, on average, 89 cents for every dollar earned by men — and the gap is wider for women of colour, Indigenous women, and newcomers. Wage inequality affects not just paycheques, but retirement savings, health, and economic security.

Wisdom of Women

The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is Give to Gain, emphasizing the importance of generosity and collaboration in advancing gender equality. In that spirit, we give you Wisdom of Women: candid reflections from Canadian women exploring how systemic bias continues to shape women’s earnings, and how transparency — and knowledge-sharing — can shift power.

Read the e-magazine   Download the e-magazine

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  2. "Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women."

    — Maya Angelou

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    GIVE TO GAIN

    Stop the Party presents: Wisdom of Women

    The theme for International Women's Day 2026 is give to gain, emphasizing the importance of generosity and collaboration in advancing gender equality.

    In that spirit, we give you the Wisdom of Women: a book and content series where ten amazing marketing and advertising women share their experiences, hardships, tools and successes to benefit the next generation.

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    WISDOM OF WOMEN

    The wage gap isn't random. It's built: through silence, bias and compounded decisions that convince women the problem is personal.

    This project makes the system visible.

    Stop the Party was founded on a simple belief: transparency is leverage. The gap doesn't close when one woman negotiates her way out of it. It closes when it stops being a secret.

    – Erika & Ash
    Co-Founders, Stop the Party

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  4. "Well-behaved women seldom make history."

    — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

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    THE EQUITY ILLUSION

    Gender wage disparity hides in plain sight — in cultures where compensation conversations are taboo, merit is assumed to be rewarded, and women are told the system will work if they simply work hard enough.

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    "I learned early on that the system – and the world – was not designed to be equal. As a Black woman trying to get into the industry, I simply hoped my talent and reputation would help me navigate."

    – Kereesa

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    "Pay disparity was never discussed. In fact talking about it or comparing salaries was openly discouraged and considered taboo."

    – Katie

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    "I bought into the narrative that the gap exists because men demand what they want, so I adopted the 'male' playbook. I thought if I acted like the men in the room, I'd be paid like them. I didn't realize you can't out-negotiate a systemic bias."

    – Julia

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  8. Ayushi Sah

    Strategist

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    WISE WOMEN

    Meet the wise women sharing their experiences, tools and strategies to overcome the wage gap.

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  9. Hilary Borndahl

    Founder & CEO

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    Danielle Baker

    Founder & Principal

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Meet the Founders

Stop the Party was founded by women determined to turn frustration into action. We believe in using creativity, boldness, and humour to shine a light on inequality and demand better.

Erika Maginn

Erika is a VP Group Strategy Director in Toronto.

Ashleigh McEwan

Ashleigh is a VP Group Account Director in Toronto.

Resources to Understand and Act

Awareness is the first step toward change. We've created free, shareable resources designed to spark conversation, educate, and drive action around the gender wage gap. Download, share, and put them to work in your own circles.

Game of Life is rigged.

Want to know what the "Game of Life" would be like if it reflected real-life gender pay disparity? Download the rules and additional playing cards and use this as an educational tool to help older children, tweens and teens understand the reality of the wage gap, so they grow up informed and can advocate for themselves when they enter the workforce.

Stop the Party x Fierce Mamas

Get in the mood with some Valentine’s Day cards that really hit you in the … pay cheque. Download this collab set of cards and start a much needed conversation this February 14th!

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

What is the gender wage gap?

The difference in average earnings between men and women. In Canada in 2024, women make on average 11% less than men overall.

Why “Stop the Party”?

While women’s achievements are absolutely worth celebrating, the lack of progress in achieving equal pay is not. So we commemorate International Women’s Day each year – not by toasting the women in the office with pink cupcakes and champagne – but with education, tools and advocacy that can make a meaningful difference in closing the wage gap.

Is the gender wage gap the same for all women?

No. While it exists for women of every age and race, it is more pronounced for Indigenous, racialized and newcomer women.

What can I do to Stop the Party?

Glad you asked! You can help by sharing resources, talking about the issue, advocating for yourself and supporting equal pay policies. You can also join the Stop the Party team.

Want to Stop the Party?

Whether you want to volunteer, collaborate, or bring STP to your community, we’d love to connect. Drop us an email at info.stoptheparty@gmail.com