Government of Canada Announces Support for Women and Girls in Rural Alberta

June 29, 2012

Edmonton, AB – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced Government of Canada support for a project that will benefit First Nations women and girls living on reserves throughout Alberta and within the Edmonton city limits.

“Our government is pleased to support this promising new project by the Creating Hope Society, which will significantly improve the lives of local First Nations women and girls affected by violence,” said Minister Ambrose. “By ensuring they have the tools and support services to tackle violence against women and girls, we are empowering entire communities and helping to build a stronger economy.”The Creating Hope Society will receive $293,616 for a project that targets First Nations women and girls living on reserves and within the Edmonton city limits. The project will engage five First Nations groups, service providers and women and girls in developing and implementing a community plan to meet the needs of those affected by gender-based violence.

“This project is literally creating hope for First Nations women facing violence, on and off reserve, within city boundaries and in remote regions of the province,” said Ms. Bernadette Iahtail, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Creating Hope.

As part of its Call for Proposals for Women Living in Rural and Remote Communities and Small Urban Centres, the Government of Canada, through Status of Women Canada’s Women’s Program, has invested over $14 million in 55 projects across the country. This includes $2 million in project funding to the following organizations in Alberta:

• Association for the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women
• Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association
• Shining Mountains Living Community Services
• Creating Hope Society
• Medicine Hat Family Service
• Cochrane Society for Housing Options
• Fort Saskatchewan Families First Society

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 each year, its highest level ever.

The attached backgrounder outlines the Alberta projects highlighted today by Minister Ambrose.

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For more information, please contact:

Michelle Bakos
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 Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7839


Backgrounder

RECENT WOMEN’S PROGRAM PROJECTS IN ALBERTA

• Under the Call for Proposals for Women Living in Rural and Remote Communities and Small Urban Centres, the Government of Canada has supported the following projects located in Alberta:

Association for the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women

• The Association for the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women is receiving $300,000 for a project that will target immigrant and visible minority women in Southern Alberta. The organization will carry out a gender-based analysis of economic security issues and develop an action plan that will begin in Lethbridge and extend to other identified communities.

Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association

• The Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association is receiving $300,000 for a project that will target immigrant women in the areas of Red Deer, Ponoka, Olds and Lacombe who are vulnerable to unemployment, underemployment and poverty. The organization plans to work with community partners to identify current resources as well as gaps and barriers to employment for immigrant women.

Shining Mountains Living Community Services

• Shining Mountains Living Community Services is receiving $299,500 for a project for women in Blackfalds, Alberta. The organization will work with women and girls, local organizations, town councils and businesses to identify gaps, priorities and strategies to address gender-based violence. The project will aid in the development and implementation of a sustainable community plan for women and girls affected by violence.

Creating Hope Society

• The Creating Hope Society is receiving $293,616 for a project that will target 125 Aboriginal women and girls living on reserves throughout Alberta and within the Edmonton city limits. The project will provide community members with tools to help women and girls who are victims of violence and deliver support services that are currently unavailable. The organization will work with five First Nations groups, service providers and individuals to develop and implement a community plan that meets the needs of women and girls affected by violence.

Medicine Hat Family Service

• Medicine Hat Family Service is receiving $292,900 for a project that will engage women and girls living in and around the rural regions of Southeastern Alberta. The organization will work with the project’s partners to create a common language and understanding of gender-based violence in order to develop, implement and evaluate a community plan for women and girls affected by violence.

Cochrane Society for Housing Options

• The Cochrane Society for Housing Options is receiving $269,488 for a project that targets low-income and economically disadvantaged women in Cochrane and its surrounding areas. The project aims to identify the employment, resource, and support needs of low-income women including single teen and adult mothers, immigrant women, disabled women and Aboriginal women.

Fort Saskatchewan Families First Society

• Fort Saskatchewan Families First Society is receiving $265,500 for a project that will identify opportunities to coordinate existing services and create new resources to better assist girls and women to deal with gendered violence issues. The organization plans to engage women, girls, community organizations and key stakeholders in developing and implementing a community plan to address family violence in Fort Saskatchewan. They will educate the broader community and work with them to identify local factors that may contribute to violence.

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