Government of Canada Supports Project to End Violence Against Women and Girls in Surrey and Fraser Valley

SURREY, BC, Jan. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, along with Nina Grewal, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood-Port Kells, today announced Government of Canada support for a project to address violence against women and girls in Surrey and the surrounding Fraser Valley area.

"Our Government is committed to protecting women and girls from violence," said Minister Leitch. "That is why we are holding offenders accountable for their actions, and supporting community-based projects across Canada that address violence against women."

"Gender-based violence is a pervasive issue that touches us all," said Nina Grewal, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood-Port Kells. "Through this project, the Surrey Women's Centre Society is providing effective, targeted, and community-based support to address violence against women and girls across the region."

The Surrey Women's Centre Society is receiving $250,000 from the Government of Canada for a project that will improve services for women and girls who have experienced physical and sexual assault. Focusing on Surrey and the surrounding Fraser Valley area, the Society will work to improve the coordination of medical, legal and social intervention for victims.

"We are very pleased to have this Government of Canada support for our project, which will increase safety in our community by improving the coordination of care for women and girls who experience gender-based violence," said Ms. Sonya Boyce, Executive Director, Surrey Women's Centre Society. "This project fills a real need in the community; until now, there has been no effective coordination of services in our region to respond to the needs of women and girls who have been physically and/or sexually assaulted."

Through Status of Women Canada, Harper Government support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, supporting more than 600 projects across Canada. Since that time, over $62 million dollars in funding has been approved specifically for projects to end violence against women and girls.

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada

For media inquiries only:

Barbara Mottram
Director of Communications
Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C.,
O. Ont., M.P.
Minister of Labour and Minister of
Status of Women
Tel: [phone] 

For all other inquiries, contact:

Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications
and Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
Tel: [phone]

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For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to women.gc.ca.