Media advisory - Teacher leaders from across Canada to gather in Winnipeg for national symposium on women's Issues

OTTAWA, March 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Living as an ally: Individually and Collectively is the theme of the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) Women's Issues Symposium hosted by the Manitoba Teachers' Society (MTS) and the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF), which kicks off on International Women's Day, March 8, and runs until March 10 at the MTS offices, 191 Harcourt St., in Winnipeg.

Picking up on the theme, speakers from academia, community groups and teacher organizations will examine the struggle for equality for women in Canada, racialized violence against Aboriginal women, the impact of poverty on marginalized groups, as well as human trafficking.  A panel presentation will also provide an opportunity for teachers and teacher leaders to examine their roles as individuals and as activists on "being an ally" for Aboriginal women and others.

More details here: http://www.ctf-fce.ca/Events/Default.aspx?index_id=121323&id=91040&lang=EN

Speakers include:

• Marilou McPhedran, Order of Canada recipient, lawyer
• Dr. James McNinch, Dean of Education, University of Regina
• Dr. Julie Kryzanowski, Deputy Medical Health Officer, Saskatoon
• Diane Redsky, Project Director for the Task force on Human Trafficking, Canadian Women's Foundation.

Paul Taillefer, CTF President, Paul Olson, MTS President, and Steve Allen, STF President, will greet delegates at the two-day event which is open to both women and men.  Other CTF Member organizations presidents include:

• Alexis Allen, President of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and Chair of the CTF Advisory Committee on the Status of Women;
• Suzanne Bourgeois, President of the Association des enseignantes et des enseignantes francophones du Nouveau Brunswick;
• Heather Smith, President of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association;
• Lily Cole, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association;
• David Reid, President of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association; and
• Katherine Mackwood, President of the Yukon Teachers' Association.

The MTS represents all of Manitoba's 15,000 public school teachers and the STF represents over 12,000 teachers in Saskatchewan.  The CTF is the only organization that speaks nationally on behalf of the Canadian teaching profession. An alliance of 15 Member organizations and one Affiliate Member representing nearly 200,000 teachers across the country, CTF is also a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (EI).

Media contact:
Francine Filion, Communications Director, CTF 613-688-4314 (office) or 613-899-4247 (cell)