According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Windsor has some work to do in regards to being a welcoming place for women.

A study done by the Centre has ranked Victoria as the best city to be a woman in Canada, while Windsor, rated last among the country's 25 largest metropolitan areas.

The main reasons are women in Windsor have the lowest rate of employment (53 per cent), and the highest levels of poverty (24 per cent) among the communities listed in the study.

Clients of the Windsor organization “West” – Womens’ Enterprise Skills Training – say the ranking is legitimate.

Nathaly Espinoza tells CTV Windsor “they always pick guys over me, it is unfair” when describing her experience in searching for a job.

Daniela Medina adds “I just wish it was better, being a woman.”

Espinoza and Medina are originally from Venezuela. Although they don’t regret having moved to Windsor, both women have struggled to live the Canadian dream with a steady, long term job.

There are some positives in the report. Windsor ranked 12th in the category of personal security, citing fewer cases of sexual assault and domestic violence than other big cities in Canada.

The study also found the number of women in Windsor with a college diploma is above average.

London ranked third overall in the study, just behind Kingston, and a head of Quebec City.

The Centre ranked the cities based on gaps in men and women's access to economic security, personal security, education, health, and positions of leadership in Canada's biggest cities.

Read the full study here.

Here is a list of the cities ranked in the study:

 

  1.    Victoria
  2.    Kingston, Ont.
  3.    London, Ont.
  4.    Quebec City
  5.    Gatineau, Que.
  6.    Montreal
  7.    Sherbrooke, Que.
  8.    St. John's, NL
  9.    Vancouver
  10.    Halifax
  11.    Toronto
  12.    Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ont.
  13.    Hamilton
  14.    Ottawa
  15.    Abbotsford-Mission, B.C.
  16.    Barrie, Ont.
  17.    Kelowna, B.C.
  18.    Regina, Sask.
  19.    St. Catharines-Niagara, Ont.
  20.    Winnipeg
  21.    Saskatoon
  22.    Edmonton
  23.    Calgary
  24.    Oshawa, Ont.
  25.    Windsor, Ont.

With files from The Canadian Press.