GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ENCOURAGES WOMEN LEADERS IN THE CITY OF OTTAWA

OTTAWA, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, Mr. Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament (Ottawa—Orleans), today announced Government of Canada support for a project that will address the priority issues of advancing women's participation in leadership and decision-making roles.

"Our government is proud to support women in all communities across Canada to take on the challenge of leadership," said Minister Ambrose. "Our nation's capital has the capacity to become a leader in this effort of inclusion. We are proud to support this forward-looking and innovative project to empower women from under-represented groups, ensuring decision-making processes reflect the full diversity of the City of Ottawa."

"Research tells us that for a city to be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable - a truly 21^st-century city - diverse social groups must have a role in decision-making processes," said Mr. Galipeau. "Ottawa is a world-class city and our population reflects that diversity. It only makes sense for all our city's citizens, in all their diversity, to be actively involved in shaping Ottawa, and this project helps fulfill that important goal."

Lowertown Community Resource Centre - trustee of the City for All Women Initiative is receiving $180,000 for the two-year project entitled Engaging Diverse Communities through Facilitation. This project is encouraging women's leadership and democratic participation by providing leadership training to women from diverse backgrounds, empowering them to engage with the municipal government and thereby inform decision-making processes in the City of Ottawa.

"This support from the Government of Canada is providing women from diverse backgrounds with facilitation training to strengthen their ability to engage their respective communities," said Ms. Suzanne Doerge, Director, City for All Women Initiative (CAWI). "These women, who represent more than two dozen groups from across Ottawa, will apply their newly acquired engagement skills within their own organizations and communities, and facilitate consultations on city planning. As a result, 440 women will become more involved in civic life and enable the City to be informed of the views of residents from diverse backgrounds."

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting worthwhile projects like this because they yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada while strengthening our families, our communities and our country. Through Status of Women Canada, the government's support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, growing from $10.8 million to $19 million - its highest level ever.

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For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.

For further information:

Rebecca Thompson Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Public Works and          Government Services and Minister for Status of Women 819 997-5421

Nanci-Jean Waugh Director General, Communications and     Strategic Planning Status of Women Canada 613 995-7839