Government of Canada Salutes Vancouver Project to End Violence against Women and Girls on University and College Campuses

VANCOUVER, Nov. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, Wai Young, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, today recognized a Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC) project to engage young people in addressing violence against women on university and college campuses. Along with Minister Ambrose, parliamentarians throughout Canada announced funding for similar projects across the country.

"Our Government is taking action to address violence against women on university and college campuses across Canada," said Minister Ambrose. "We are pleased to support projects that will help make university and college communities safer for everyone."

"I am proud to be part of a government that acts on its commitment to end violence against women," said MP Young. "With the support of the Government of Canada, this project will empower young people - women and men - to work together to make our community a safe place to live and learn."

Fomally announced by Minster Ambrose in June 2012, MOSAIC is receiving $200,000 in Government of Canada funding for its 28-month project to tackle violence against female students, particularly newcomers to Canada, in collaboration with Langara College. The project will focus on female students from various diverse communities. The focus of the project will be to enhance campus policies, programs and resources for the safety of female students. Partners will develop a violence prevention strategy and campus community safety plans. Particular emphasis will be placed on education, prevention strategies on and off campus, and raising awareness among youth and new immigrants.

Since 1976, the multilingual non-profit organization has helped to integrate newcomers to life in Canada. Its major activities include settlement services and programming, crime reduction and prevention programs, public education and community development.

"We are delighted to have the Government of Canada's support for this project, which we believe will bring much-needed attention to the all-too-common reality of gender-based violence on university and college campuses," said Ms. Ninu Kang, Director of Family Programs, MOSAIC.

"We look forward to working with MOSAIC on this ground-breaking project, as it is an opportunity for us to educate, empower and support female students who may be experiencing violence in their personal lives, " said Dr. David Ross. "Through our community forums, Langara has long supported initiatives that bring attention to issues surrounding violence in our communities."

The Government of Canada is providing 21 organizations with close to $4 million to carry out projects that tackle a wide range of issues related to violence against female students, such as sexual assault and harassment. Organizations will work with college and university campus communities to carry out their projects.

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting projects that yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada while strengthening families, communities and the country. Through Status of Women Canada, the government's support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, from $10.8 million to close to $19 million, its highest level ever. Since 2007, more than $54 million in federal funding has been approved for projects that seek to address violence against women and girls.

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Backgrounder 

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Organizations receiving funding under the call for proposals - Engaging Young People to Prevent Violence against Women on Post-Secondary Campuses:

Corner Brook Status of Women Council (CBSWC), Corner Brook, NL;
Mount Allison Students' Union, Sackville, NB;
Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, Inc. (FSACC), Fredericton NB;
Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne Inc., Paquetville, NB;
Antigonish Women's Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association, Antigonish, NS;
Association chrétienne des jeunes femmes de Montréal (Y des femmes/YWCA Montréal), Montréal, QC;
La Pointe du jour CALACS Sept-Îles, Sept-Îles, QC;
Interim Place, Mississauga, ON;
Ottawa Coalition to End Violence against Women, Ottawa, ON;
Scarborough Women's Centre, Scarborough, ON;
Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area (SACHA), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON;
Urban Alliance on Race Relations, Toronto, ON;
Yellow Brick House, Richmond Hill, ON;
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, Kitchener, ON;
Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, Edmonton, AB;
Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, Edmonton, AB;
University of Alberta, Student's Union, Edmonton, AB;
YWCA Lethbridge and District, Lethbridge, AB;
Alberni Community and Women's Services Society, Port Alberni, BC;
MOSAIC (Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities), Vancouver, BC; and,
Royal Roads University Student Association, Victoria, BC.

These organizations will work with college and/or university campuses in their communities.

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada

Amber Irwin
Press Secretary
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
     Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
613 995-7839

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