Strong Women Mean a Strong Canada: Guergis

SAINT JOHN, NB, Feb. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - The Government of Canada is supporting new projects that will help to improve the lives of women and their families across New Brunswick, the Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women), announced today.

"A healthy economy remains our government's top priority," Minister Guergis said. "All Canadians benefit when women are economically secure, physically safe and showing leadership across the country. Today's announcement will help more young women in New Brunswick to reach their full potential."

Minister of State Guergis announced that the following four organizations are receiving a total of $585,166 through the Women's Community Fund of Status of Women Canada:

    
    -   $200,000 to the Association acadienne et francophone des aînées et
        aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick for its project, Éveil à l'exercice de la
        citoyenneté des femmes et comment l'exercer (Raising women's
        awareness of citizenship and how to exercise it);
    -   $200,000 to the Urban Core Support Network Saint John Inc. for its
        project, POWER UP! Mentoring;
    -   $106,866 to Partners for Youth Inc. for its project, Building
        Opportunity - Leadership Development for Young Women to Eliminate
        Relationship Violence; and
    -   $78,300 to the Centre de prévention de la violence familiale de Kent
        for its project, Notre destin notre autodétermination (Our
        Destiny...Our Self-determination).
    

Support for today's announcement comes from funding the Government of Canada allocated to the Women's Community Fund. To qualify for funding, each project must work to promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.

"In the past few years, some 50 low-income women from across Saint John have successfully completed POWER UP! leadership training," said Ms. Bonnie McGraw, Co-Chairperson of the Urban Core Support Network Saint John Inc. "This project continues our outreach to women facing barriers by training 12 leadership graduates from our last pilot project to become community-based facilitators and mentors to the new participants."

"Over the past year, our Government has listened to the concerns of groups and individuals across the country," said Minister of State Guergis. "As a result of these consultations, we have delivered funding for a national shelter network, supported the introduction of a bill to address human trafficking and helped to support community programs."

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

For further information: Emily Goucher, Senior Special Assistant, Communications, Office of the Minister of State (Status of Women), [phone]; Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning, Status of Women Canada, [phone]