SEPTEMBER 2021
 

Women Femmes NB

I am happy to share that the Women’s Equality Branch’s
newsletter has returned.

As the minister responsible for Women’s Equality, I am so impressed by what is going on across New Brunswick as it relates to gender equality and improving the personal, economic and social security of women. This newsletter will be a chance for us to highlight some of the work of community partners and their valuable resources, profile outstanding women and girls in New Brunswick and inform you on upcoming events.

Our first newsletter will profile a young woman who took part in the New Boots program along with a new mother who fought her way to the Olympics. This week marks Respectful Workplace Week. I encourage you to think about the role we each play in making our workplaces safe, healthy and free from discrimination. We’ve highlighted some important days and weeks to watch for over the coming months, including Gender Equality Week, International Day of the Girl and Women’s History Month. We’ll also provide some resources on Campus Sexual Violence as students kick-off the school year.

Hon. Tammy Scott-Wallace
Minister Responsible for Women’s Equality

What inspired you to choose the trade you are working in?
I have always been interested in new construction and real estate. Growing up, my parents built two new houses for us, and I always loved the smell of a new house being built. I also really enjoyed house renovation shows on TV. My original plan was...

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Did you know…

• In Canada, women make up 51% of the national population. However, women represent less than 10% of the national transportation, construction, and skilled trades sectors workforce (Source: MAP Strategic Workforce Services)
  
  
• For the 2020-21 fiscal year in New Brunswick, there were 4,563 active apprentices with 95 per cent being male and 5 per cent being female (Source: Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour)

• New Boots is a provincial network and resource hub that aims to promote, support and mentor women in non-traditional trades. These types of jobs can include construction, manufacturing, automotive, truck and transport and forestry. Visit: https://nb-map.ca/new-boots/women-in-trades/ to learn more about women in trades.

• September 20 to 26 is Gender Equality Week. To celebrate, you can learn more about GBA+ and how it applies to your work. Achieving gender equality depends on closing key gaps between diverse groups of women, men and gender diverse people.
  
  
  • The gender wage gap is caused by outdated societal attitudes and beliefs about the place and value of women in the workplace.
    
    
  • During the COVID-19 lockdown, females around the World were losing their jobs at a higher rate than men.

• In 2018, there were 579 sexual assaults reported to police in New Brunswick (Moreau, 2019). However, less than 1 in 20 incidents of sexual assault are reported to police in Canada. https://svnb.ca/en/

• We wear orange shirts on September 30 for Orange Shirt Day because Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor, was given an orange shirt by her grandmother for her first day of school at St. Joseph’s Mission residential school in British Columbia. When Phyllis arrived at school, her clothes were taken away and never given back, including her orange t-shirt. Phyllis speaks about how this impacted her and wants to convey that every child matters. Orange Shirt Day was initiated by Phyllis on September 30, 2013 to educate people about residential schools and to fight racism and bullying. To learn more about this day, visit: www.orangeshirtday.org