WHEN Women's Healthy Environments Network

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WHEN Women's Healthy Environments Network

WHEN is a non-profit org that educates on the links between environmental health and public health.

WHEN is a Toronto-based non-profit organization that teaches individuals and communities how to reduce their risk of illness and injury that arise from elements of the environment that surrounds us - this includes, the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. WHEN uses the influence and knowledge of women to become champions for change. WHEN is a trusted source of credible tools and

information for women on today’s relevant and emerging environmental health topics. Since 1994, WHEN has been educating the general public, media and policy makers that environmental health is a key determinant of public health, and has promoted public action for the prevention of environmental health harms.

08/19/2026

World Humanitarian Day recognizes those who protect lives, alleviate suffering, and uphold human dignity during crises. While humanitarian efforts often focus on emergency response, they also include addressing the environmental and social conditions that shape our health and well-being.

Across generations and continents, women have played a powerful role in advancing environmental health, community well-being, and environmental justice. Today, we recognize:

🌿 Rachel Carson: Marine biologist & environmental author
Through Silent Spring, Carson exposed the impacts of widespread pesticide use, demonstrating that protecting the environment also means protecting human health.

🧪 Theo Colborn: Environmental health scientist
Colborn pioneered research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), demonstrating how certain chemicals can interfere with hormones and long-term health.

🌱 Wangari Maathai: Environmentalist & founder of the Green Belt Movement
Maathai mobilized communities to plant millions of trees, linking environmental restoration with women’s empowerment, public health, and community resilience.

💧 Winona LaDuke: Indigenous environmentalist, writer & activist
LaDuke advocates for Indigenous rights and sustainable communities, while advancing biodiversity, food sovereignty, and Indigenous land restoration.

🌾 Vandana Shiva: Environmental activist & scholar
Shiva advocates for biodiversity, seed sovereignty, and sustainable agriculture, promoting native seeds, food sovereignty, and sustainable food systems.

🌳 Patricia Gualinga: Indigenous environmental & human rights defender
Gualinga, a Kichwa leader from Ecuador’s Sarayaku community, advocates for Indigenous rights and the protection of ancestral lands and the Amazon.

Humanitarian action is also carried forward every day by countless people whose work often goes unseen.

We honour:
🌱 Environmental health professionals
🔬 Researchers & scientists
🤝 Community organizers & advocates
💧 Indigenous land & water protectors
🏥 Healthcare & humanitarian workers
🌎 Educators, volunteers & changemakers

Thank you to everyone working to protect human health, environmental health, and future generations. 💚

08/14/2026

Have you noticed the severe heat, poor air quality , and heavy rain this summer? Toronto is heating up, and climate change is already shaping the way we live, work, and stay healthy. 🌡️🌧️🌿

With the 2026 Municipal Election approaching, we have an opportunity to ask: What kind of Toronto do we want to live in?

Over the next few weeks, WHEN is launching our Voting for the Environment series 🗳️🌎
We’ll be breaking down:
🌱 How climate change affects our daily lives and health
🏙️ What the City of Toronto can do to protect people and the environment
📊 Where Toronto is making progress and where gaps remain
🎤 Questions you can ask municipal candidates about their climate commitments
🗳️ Resources to help you make an informed vote this October

Climate change is a policy issue, and your vote is one way to help shape how our city responds.

Stay tuned for our Voting for the Environment series, and let’s vote for a cleaner, greener, and healthier Toronto for everyone. 💚

07/01/2026

Canada Day is often associated with celebration, but it can also be a time for reflection.

As we gather in community, we can also acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples and consider our shared responsibility to advance reconciliation.

Long before Confederation, Indigenous Peoples lived on, cared for, and stewarded these lands for thousands of years. Recognizing this history means acknowledging not only Indigenous resilience and strength, but also the harms caused by colonial policies, including land dispossession, cultural suppression, environmental degradation, and the ongoing inequities many Indigenous communities face.

As an environmental organization, we recognize that environmental health and human health are inseparable. The impacts of pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource extraction are not experienced equally, and many Indigenous communities continue to bear disproportionate environmental burdens while also leading efforts to protect and restore ecosystems.

Indigenous knowledge systems, stewardship practices, and leadership offer essential guidance for addressing today's environmental challenges. Meaningful environmental action requires respecting Indigenous rights, supporting Indigenous-led conservation and restoration initiatives, and advancing approaches grounded in reciprocity, responsibility, and care for future generations.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process. It asks us to listen to Indigenous voices, learn the histories of the places where we live, acknowledge past and present harms, and take action in ways that support Indigenous self-determination, environmental justice, and healthy communities.

This Canada Day, we invite our community to reflect on our shared responsibilities to one another and to the natural world. By learning from Indigenous perspectives and supporting the protection of the lands and waters that sustain us all, we can contribute to a future that is more equitable, healthy, and resilient for generations to come.

06/30/2026

🌈 Pride is a celebration of 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities and their resilience in fighting for their rights and protections. It is also an opportunity to reflect on history, current issues, and achieving social, environmental, and health justice.

Our health is influenced by factors like gender identity, sexual orientation, race, income, disability, and other intersecting identities that can shape environmental exposures, healthcare access, and health outcomes. 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals whose identities exist across the intersection of these factors face compounded barriers and health risks. We do not all experience environmental exposure equally, and to effectively identify gaps in accessibility and appropriate care, it is necessary to include these overlapping determinants and factors within environmental health research.

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), found in many everyday products, interfere with our body's hormone system. Products containing parabens, phthalates, and bisphenols (such as BPA) are EDC’s, and their health impacts can disproportionately affect the hormone health of some communities more than others. There is limited research on how EDCs may affect people receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy, highlighting the need for more inclusive environmental health research.

While Canada postures progressive and inclusive values, members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community continue to be excluded, stigmatized, and disregarded. They experience greater health disparities, reduced quality of life, inadequate access or satisfaction with care, systemic discrimination, structural barriers, and mistrust.

Advancing health equity means reducing barriers to affirming healthcare, expanding inclusive research, and ensuring everyone has access to healthy environments.

Our latest blog has our recommendations of service providers across Ontario who prioritize affirming healthcare, mental health services, advocacy, and community support for 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals.

🌈 Visit the link in our bio to read the full blog, explore local resources, and learn how we can build healthier, more equitable communities together.

Happy Pride from all of us at WHEN!

06/28/2026

The next chapter of our story is one of growth, collaboration, and community.

From 2004–2013, WHEN continued to champion women's environmental health through innovative programs, educational campaigns, and partnerships that inspired action across Canada. Whether raising awareness about cancer prevention, celebrating environmental leaders through Matrons of Honour, bringing communities together at the Toronto Eco Fair, or encouraging healthier, more sustainable lifestyles through initiatives like Eco Pampering and collaborations with organizations such as Connect Beauty, this decade was defined by connection and impact.

These milestones reflect our commitment to making environmental health knowledge accessible, empowering communities, and creating spaces where advocacy could flourish.

Swipe through to explore some of the moments that shaped this decade of WHEN's journey—and stay tuned as we continue celebrating our history.

06/26/2026

Every movement has a story. Ours began over 30 years ago.

From a landmark conference in 1989 that sparked the vision for WHEN, to the launch of our organization, groundbreaking publications, filmmaking, national conferences, and environmental health advocacy, the 1990s laid the foundation for the work we continue today.

Swipe through the first decade of our history to explore the milestones, partnerships, and people who helped shape the Women's Healthy Environments Network and advance environmental justice in Canada.

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we continue our journey through the next decades.

06/23/2026

One of the highlights of WTF Home Edition was connecting with the incredible organizations, vendors, and community partners helping to drive change in environmental health, sustainability, and community well-being. 🌿✨

From meaningful conversations and shared experiences to innovative ideas and local initiatives, each interaction reminded us of the power of collaboration and community-led action.

A huge thank you to all of our partners and vendors for sharing your knowledge, passion, and work with attendees. Your contributions helped make this event a space for learning, connection, and inspiration.

💚 Here’s to building healthier communities, supporting local changemakers, and continuing these important conversations beyond the event.

06/04/2026

☕ What else is in your morning cup?

Many of the products we use to enjoy our daily coffee and tea, from plastic-lined disposable cups and single-serve coffee pods to tea bags made with nylon or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), can release microplastics into our drinks when exposed to hot water. These plastics don't just disappear after use; they accumulate in our bodies and environments, contributing to a growing public health and environmental concern.

Microplastics have been found throughout the human body, including in blood, organs, and even the placenta. Researchers are also concerned about chemicals commonly associated with plastics, including PFAS, BPA, and phthalates. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been linked to reproductive health concerns such as endometriosis, PMOS (formerly PCOS), menstrual irregularities, infertility, and potential risks during pregnancy.

At the same time, many single-use coffee and tea products are marketed as environmentally friendly despite creating significant waste. Millions of coffee pods are discarded every day, while disposable paper cups often contain plastic linings that make them difficult to recycle. The Keurig Canada case serves as a reminder that corporations must be transparent about environmental claims and held accountable when those claims are misleading.

While individual action alone cannot solve the problem, there are steps we can take to reduce exposure and waste, such as using French presses or Moka pots, choosing loose-leaf tea with reusable infusers, opting for plastic-free tea bags (try out , Canadian brand!), and bringing reusable mugs and thermoses when possible.

Creating a healthier future requires more than consumer choices. It requires stronger regulations, corporate accountability, and policies that prioritize human health and environmental wellbeing. Together, we can move away from a culture of convenience and toward one that is safer for both people and the planet. 🌎💚

🎥 Want to learn more about microplastics? Check out Plastic People on CBC Gem.
📖 Read the full blog at the link in our bio.

06/01/2026

A huge thank you to the incredible sponsors, vendors, and community partners helping make our WTF Home Edition event possible!
From sustainable household products and refillable essentials to Indigenous-made goods, local tea, and hands-on workshops, our partners are helping us create a day focused on healthier homes, environmental justice, and practical ways to reduce our exposure to toxics in everyday life.
Swipe through to learn more about the amazing organizations and businesses joining us at WTF Home Edition!

05/22/2026

Introducing our panel for WTF: Home Edition presented by WHEN!🌿✨
On June 7th, 2026 from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, join us for a Panel Discussion exploring toxic sources in our homes and how environmental factors like chemical exposure, pollution, and climate change impact our health. We’ll also discuss practical ways to reduce exposure, along with how gaps in Canadian policy create barriers to environmental justice, especially for marginalized communities.
We’re joined by Anna-Liza Badaloo, who works at the intersection of health, environment, and social justice to uncover how systemic inequities are embedded in organizations and to support strategies for meaningful change. Alongside her is Adrianna Trifunovski, whose work focuses on public health research with an emphasis on environmental exposures and their impacts on community health.
Swipe the post to learn more about them ➡️

Address

192 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, ON
M5T2C2

Website

http://www.womenshealthyenvironments.ca/

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