Newsroom

News Releases

May 26, 2007

Canada's New Government Supports Projects to Improve the Quality of Life for Women in Thunder Bay and the Robinson Superior Treaty Area

THUNDER BAY, May 26, 2007 -- The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, today announced three grants to the following local organizations:

• $302,204 to the Canadian Women's Community Economic Development Council (CWCEDC);
• $65,000 to the Waabi-ma'iingan Traditional Teaching Lodge (Grey Wolf); and
• $50,554 to the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario (EFSNWO).

"Canada's New Government is proud to support these initiatives, which take concrete action to address the economic security of women in their communities and help Aboriginal women to overcome the challenges they may face," said Minister Oda. "The CWCEDC project will help increase employment opportunities for low-income women, benefiting not only the participants themselves, but also their families and their communities. The joint project of the Robinson Superior Treaty Women's Council and the Waabi-ma'iingan Traditional Teaching Lodge project will empower Aboriginal women of the Robinson Superior Treaty Area and enable them to participate more fully in their communities. And the Elizabeth Fry project will help women in Thunder Bay, particularly Aboriginal women, to break the cycle of crime and imprisonment."

"Our project will help women-centred community economic development organizations to increase their market share and their capacity to innovate and create additional employment for grassroots women in communities across Canada," said Ms. Rosalind Lockyer, President of CWCEDC.

The CWCEDC is a nationally incorporated not-for-profit organization of women community economic development practitioners working to advance women-centred community economic development as a means of reducing poverty and improving the lives of women, their families and communities. The funding supports the project Tools for Sustainability for Women-Centred Community Economic Development.

"The Robinson Superior Treaty Women's Council - Waabi-ma'iingan (Grey Wolf) Traditional Teaching Lodge project - Kitchen Table Tour: Phase 2 - will facilitate 21 community gatherings of Aboriginal women in the Robinson Superior Treaty Area. As well as sharing traditional teachings and wisdom, participants will be empowered to create community action plans and regional skills and resource inventories," said Corporation President Norma Fawcett.

The Kitchen Table Tour: Phase 2 is a seven-month joint project of the Waabi-ma'iingan Traditional Teaching Lodge (Grey Wolf) and the Robinson Superior Treaty Women's Council (RSTWC). Created to preserve and promote traditional teachings and language, Grey Wolf is currently working with Robinson Superior communities to develop an accountability framework based on the "clan governing system." The RSTWC works with Grey Wolf to empower local Aboriginal women in all aspects of their lives.

Ms. Alice Marie Taylor, EFSNWO Board President, said, "Working for Change offers six inter-related pilot projects that test approaches to assisting women who come into conflict with the law, many of whom have faced major barriers and systemic disadvantages in their lives."

The EFSNWO is one of 10 Elizabeth Fry Societies in Ontario. Through their professional staff and volunteers, they provide programs and services, such as counselling, financial assistance, accommodation, court assistance and emotional support, from the time a woman is arrested through to her discharge and return to the community. The new funding supports Working for Change, a project geared to Thunder Bay-area women in conflict with the law, 90% of Aboriginal descent.

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.

Visit Status of Women Canada's Web site at http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/.

- 30 -

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 of Communications
Status of Women Canada
(613) 995-7839

Ce texte est également disponible en français.