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May 22, 2007

Canada's New Government Supports Small Business Training for Low-Income Women

SCARBOROUGH, May 22, 2007 -- The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, today announced funding of $59,892 to the Arising Women Place for their project, Independent Women.

"Canada's New Government is proud to support the Arising Women Place, an organization that makes a difference in the lives of Canadians by empowering women to break the cycle of violence," stated Minister Oda. "Their Independent Women project will engage business women and trainers to conduct workshops and training activities for low-income women and abuse survivors from the francophone visible minority community in Scarborough. The goal of the project is to enable participants to become self-employed by providing them with small business and entrepreneurship training in the crafting and catering services areas," Minister Oda continued.

"The Women's Program grants support organizations such as the Arising Women Place that take concrete actions to directly help Canadians," Minister Oda added. "Through this project, Arising Women Place is significantly increasing opportunities for some of Scarborough's most vulnerable women to become financially independent and to participate fully in their communities."

Ms. Annie Kashamura-Zawadi, Executive Director of Arising Women Place, said, "Through lunch and learn sessions, the Independent Women project will introduce young women to non-traditional, apprenticeship and business opportunities. Our goal is to expand their horizons and provide them with options for planning and securing their economic future."

Founded in 2000, Arising Women Place seeks to break the cycle of violence against women by providing information and referral, counseling and public education to francophone immigrant and refugee women in Scarborough. Arising Women Place has successfully fostered local partnerships to address violence against women through safety audits and public education.

Status of Women Canada is a federal government agency working to promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and cultural life of Canada.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/.

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For more information, please contact:

Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
(819) 997-7788

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director, Communications
Status of Women Canada
(613) 995-7839

Ce texte est également disponible en français.