Our mission
Helping women
The Foundation’s mission is to support and encourage the professional development and financial independence of women by providing them with the means to realize their full potential.
The Lise Watier Foundation’s vision is for all women to fulfill their potential and contribute to our economy, creating a richer, more equitable society.
Our purpose
The social challenge: the lack of financial independence among local women
These figures serve as a reminder that women’s financial independence
remains fragile and far from fully achieved.
42%
of working women earn less than $30,000 per year.¹
74%
of women worry about not having enough income in retirement.²
80%
is the difference in favor of men in terms of accumulated
wealth at the time of
retirement among
unmarried couples.³
82,3%
In Quebec, women earn the equivalent of 82.3% of men’s salaries each week, across all professions.⁴
6 times
Mothers are 6 times more likely to leave their job than fathers if they do not have access to childcare services in Quebec.⁵
Sources
¹ Statistics Canada (2023). Table 11-10-0240-01 Distribution of employment income of individuals by sex and work activity, Canada, provinces and selected census metropolitan areas
² Chambre de la sécurité financière (2024). Retirement savings planning: women still struggling to close the gap with men in Quebec
³ INRS (2022). Enquête inédite : première étude québécoise sur les inégalités de patrimoine hommes-femmes
⁴ Institut de la statistique du Québec (2022). Écart de rémunération entre les femmes et les hommes : comment la situation a-t-elle évolué depuis 1998 ?
⁵ Conseil du statut de la femme (2022). L’accès au service de garde : un impératif pour les femmes du Québec
This highlights how much progress still needs to be made
toward true financial independence for women.
The values of the Foundation
The following values are at the heart of all our reflections and actions…
Message from the co-founders
The sky is the limit, but together, we can reach for the stars!
The path can sometimes be so challenging that we cannot cross it alone. But every journey reaches its destination when we find support during the storm. When geese take flight, they travel in a V-formation. Together, they fly faster and face the elements more effectively.
Each one takes its turn leading the formation, always ensuring support for those who are injured or unwell. By helping one another, they reach their goal. This solidarity inspired the Let’s Start Up Pathway, as we believe that we too are stronger together.
Through our programs, we seek to help women take flight and support those facing challenges, so we can journey together toward the same goal. This ultimate destination is self-fulfillment, financial independence, and the freedom to make empowered choices.
