Women's Equality Branch
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All Issues | 2014 Issues

WOMEN FEMMES NB

IN THIS ISSUE:

• NOW AVAILABLE: EQUALITY PROFILE – WOMEN IN N.B.
• NOTICES
• DID YOU KNOW?
• MAY IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IN NEW BRUNSWICK
• BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN AIMS TO CURB VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
• MORE WOMEN APPOINTED TO AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
• SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS WILL GET MORE HELP BY NEW PROGRAM

_____________________________________________________________________________________

NOW AVAILABLE: EQUALITY PROFILE – WOMEN IN N.B.

NOTICES

Trades & Tech Gala for Girls – Fredericton. There will be a Trades & Tech Gala for Girls event on Tuesday, May 12 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Leo Hayes High School. All high school girls from grades 9-12 are invited to come explore exciting non-traditional careers and meet fascinating women working in these fields. This event is free and a pizza dinner is provided. To register or for more info, please visit our website: http://bit.ly/1QEduvw, email [email protected] or call (506) 462-5910.

Fredericton Women’s Show, May 2, 10:00 am to 6 pm and May 3, 11:00 am to 4 pm. Prizes and free admission. Donations at the door will gladly be accepted for Women in Transition House -- women helping women in need. Plenty of FREE parking available. Venue is fully accessible! Richard J. Currie Center, 15 Peter Kelly Drive, Fredericton (on UNB grounds). First 100 women will receive goodie bags each day http://www.frederictonwomensshow.com/#!

Moncton Run to Support Women’s Mental Health. Shoppers Drug Mart in partnership with the Beauséjour Family Crisis Resource Centre is sending a call out to all citizens to participate in the first Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women to take place in Moncton, N.B. on May 3, 2015 as part of Mental Health Week. The run has a variety of options and participants will receive amazing swag bags. Proceeds from the event will help the Beauséjour Family Crisis Resource Centre continue to offer free mental health counselling to women in need by offering a satellite space in Moncton! To register: www.runforwomen.ca , click register now, then select Moncton May 3.

Free monthly legal clinics – are being offered by Support to Single Parents Inc. in collaboration with the Université de Moncton (Pro Bono Family Law Project) and local Family Law lawyers. Local Family Law lawyers will be providing legal advice at our office located at 22 Church Street, Suite T370. There are a few seats left for the family law legal clinic being held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. We are also scheduling appointments for the clinic offered on June 10th. For more information or to book an individual appointment, please contact: Nancy Hartling, Executive Director 858-1303 ext. 3306. Debbie Melanson-Hebert, Program Manager 858-1303 ext. 3302

White Ribbon Fredericton March: May 6, 2015 at 12:00 pm, Officer’s Square (Queen St. corner Regent St), Fredericton, NB. This march is an event to bring together all genders and provide an opportunity for men to stand up and speak out against violence against women.  Men will be invited to march from Officer’s Square to City Hall as a sign of solidarity with all the women in their lives who experience violence, discrimination and oppression.  There will then be a FREE BBQ! While the march itself is for men and boys to show solidarity, all are welcome, regardless of gender. Website: www.wrcf.webs.com. Contact Persons: Jennifer Richard ([email protected]), Barry McKnight ([email protected])

Join us for a night of glitz and glamour at A Day in Her Shoes on May 6 in support of CMHA of NB in Saint John. The evening will include hors d’oeuvres, wine and beverages, silent auction, fashion show and an amazing raffle draw. The fashion show will feature the latest spring fashions from Market Square. Our guest speaker Donna Craig – Wife, Mother and Mental Health Advocate will provide a message of forgiveness and unconditional love! Tickets for A Day in Her Shoes can be purchased at Manchester Shoe Salon, online at www.nb.cmha.ca or by calling (506) 633-1705.

How to Be More Assertive with Anne Marie Hartford, M.Ed.  This program consists of six sessions and is held at 356 Queen Street, Fredericton. Wednesday, May 6, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The fee is $179 per person and subsidies are available. For more information and to register, please contact Family Enrichment at (506) 458-8211 or email [email protected]
http://familyenrichment.ca/index.php/en/page/home

Join us at the Blue Door (Fredericton) on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, for a very special evening of fine dining and local art to raise money for the Fredericton Women In Transition House Inc.  Tickets are $75 each and include a 4-course meal and a beautiful stemless wine goblet made by Nu Ceramics. There will also be a silent auction for fantastic local art pieces including painting, jewelry, pottery and more. Seating at 5pm and 7:30pm. For tickets: Women in Transition House (506-457-2770), The Blue Door (506-455-2583 or 100 Regent St) and Nu Ceramics (506-471-3254 or
[email protected]).

Family Enrichment is offering the following Lunch & Learn presentations during Mental Health Week:
·  Monday, May 4 – Introduction to Assertiveness
·  Tuesday, May 5 – Mental Fitness
·  Wednesday, May 6 – Enhancing Self-esteem
·  Thursday, May 7 – How To Be Your Own Best Friend
·  Friday, May 8 – The Benefits of Laughter
These presentations are held at 356 Queen Street, Fredericton.  The fee is $15 per presentation or $60 for all five.  For more information and to register, please contact Family Enrichment at 458-8211 or email [email protected]; Website: http://familyenrichment.ca/index.php/en/page/home

Women & Communication, Organized by CBA-NB Women Lawyers Forum.  May 8, 2015, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Saint John Trade & Convention  Centre (Montagu I/II Room). Available via webcast for members who cannot participate in person. The CBA-NB Women Lawyers Forum will be presenting The MURIEL CORKERY-RYAN, Q.C. Award to this year’s recipient, Judith Keating, Q.C. There will be a lunchtime fireside chat featuring The Honourable Madam Justice Barbara Baird and hosted by Marie-Claude Blais, Q.C. Registration Fees (+HST): CBA Member: $100, Non-member: $150, Articling Student: $50, Law School Student: $30. Fee for webcast: $100 Download PDF Brochure. Register online

The Federal-Provincial-Territorial Status of Women Forum invites you to participate in a Sexual Violence Knowledge Exchange Wednesday, June 17, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Central time), RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg MB. This event will bring together leading minds from across the country to raise awareness and understanding of sexual violence in the Canadian context. There is no cost to attend. Please note that there are approximately 200 spaces available for in-person attendance, but the event will be webcast for wider audience participation. The deadline to register is May 20. Registration form.

28th Annual Atlantic Crime Prevention Symposium: “Exploring the Impact of Inter-Personal Violence”. Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 25 – 27 May. Keynotes by: Chief Leanne Fitch, Fredericton Police Force, Fredericton NB; Dr. Amy Bombay, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University; Donald G. McPherson, Activist, Educator, Feminist, College Football Hall of Famer.  Also featuring: An open discussion forum and workshops; A Legendary East Coast Kitchen Party, hosted by Keith’s Brewery. Cost $200.00. Early Bird Rate $150.00 (to May 1, 2015) Student Rate $100.00.  Register at:
http://bit.ly/1GCh4Rd

Disability Awareness Week’s Executive Committee is accepting nominations for the Provincial Award and the Hon. Andy Scott Award. Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.gnb.ca/council or you can request a form by calling (800) 442-4412. Supporting documentation and the completed forms can be emailed to [email protected] or can be faxed to (506) 444-3001. You can opt to mail the nomination to 648-440 King Street, Fredericton NB E3B 5H8. This is an opportunity to have someone recognized provincially for their contribution, commitment and compassion.

Current Opportunities to Serve on New Brunswick Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs):   Qualified women and men having the highest personal and professional integrity are invited to serve on New Brunswick agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs).  For more information, click the following link: ABC current opportunities

Voices of New Brunswick Women Consensus-Building Forum – Contact Us: Sartain MacDonald Building, 551 King Street, Suite 103,  Fredericton NB E3B 1E7, T. 506.462.5179, F. 506.462.5069, E. [email protected], www.voixfemmesnb-voiceswomennb.ca.

MAY IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Fredericton, N.B. – The Provincial Strategy on Sexual Assault, an initiative of the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and the Women’s Equality Branch, will be launching the fifth annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month in New Brunswick on May 1st.

“This year, we want to bring awareness to the power in community to support victims of sexual assault”, says Lorraine Whalley, Executive Director of the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre.  “Sexual violence is so prevalent in our communities, we can often feel helpless.  This campaign is aimed at letting people know what they can do to help a victim, on an individual level.”

The campaign will be promoted through community events taking place all over the province, as well as online.  “We often are asked by family members, friends and service providers how they can help someone who is sexual assaulted.” says Jenn Richard, Director of Community Development for the Provincial Strategy on Sexual Assault. “Our approach was to provide them with the expert advice from victims and survivors themselves: ‘Believe me.  Let me know it’s not my fault.  Ask me what I need’.”

Sexual Assault Awareness Month will be running throughout May.  For more information, please call 506-452-6986 or visit www.gnb.ca/SAAM.

About us

The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre is a volunteer organization whose primary goal is reflected in a commitment to end sexual violence against women and children. We strive to meet this goal through two broad activities, namely: public education and providing direct services to those affected by sexual violence such as our 24 hour crisis line and specialized counselling.
www.gnb.ca/SAAM

www.fsacc.ca

BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN AIMS TO CURB VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

SHEDIAC, NB – Men and boys are taking a stand against violence toward women

A new campaign to combat violence against women was unveiled today in New Brunswick. Three billboards have been installed in the in the communities of Shediac, Beaubassin-Estand and Cap-Pele. The billboards are encouraging men to take action to eliminate violence against women.

The three billboards feature three different groups of men, young and old. To show their solidarity in the fight against violence, all the men and boys are dressed in white. The slogan for the campaign, “Take action and eliminate violence. Join the movement.” is written on each billboard in both French and English.

“We want more men and boys to become allies in our efforts to eliminate violence,” said Kristal LeBlanc, director of the Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre. “Engaging men and boys is primordial, because they can have a positive influence on how their peers behave.”

About 200 men and boys from the area participated in the project, including some well known local celebrities  like baseball star Rheal  Cormier, Hugo Vautour and Jean-Claude Bertin.

The campaign came together through a partnership with the three communities and the Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre. The Centre says they wanted to get the message out there that men and boys are part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Jean-Claude Bertin is a participant in the billboard campaign, as well as the Manager of the Shediac Co-operative. He says that violence against women is a major issue that can’t be ignored.

“It’s a concern to all of us, even men who aren’t violent. We can’t remain silent and do nothing,” said Bertin.

Organizers hope that the billboards will start a movement within the communities, where boys and men will want to make positive and lasting change.

The awareness campaign and billboards are a part of the project PREVENT, REDUCE, ELIMINATE VIOLENCE which is funded by Status of Women Canada.
http://bit.ly/1bagH58

MORE WOMEN APPOINTED TO AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

More than half of the public appointments that the provincial government has made to agencies, boards and commissions over the past six months have been women. The move is in keeping with government’s commitment to appoint more women to these organizations.

“Not only is this the right thing to do, we also believe it can help drive job creation. Some of the world’s top-performing economies and businesses enjoy the highest proportion of women on decision-making bodies,” said Premier Brian Gallant, who is also minister responsible for women’s equality.

In New Brunswick, the overall representation of women on agencies, boards and commissions appointed by the provincial government has hovered around 30 per cent for the last 20 years. Gallant recently issued a public call for more women to be nominated as candidates.

“I am pleased to update New Brunswickers that over the past six months, of the 57 members of the publicly-appointed agencies, boards and commissions, 31 are women,” said Gallant. “We hope to continue to receive names of strong women to help us move our economy forward and make New Brunswick the best place to raise a family.”

http://bit.ly/1ENwp4b

SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS WILL GET MORE HELP BY NEW PROGRAM
Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre is Co-ordinating a New Program to Help Victims in the City

The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre is behind a new program aimed at helping victims of sexual assault know what services are available to them.

Several organizations and volunteers in the city, including the Fredericton Police, the RCMP, the Domestic Violence Outreach Program and others, are working together on the new initiative to help and inform anyone who's been a victim of sexual assault.

"We really wanted to bring people together in a formal way, to have meetings and talk about where we can approve [sic] things. It just seemed like this was the best time," said Jennifer Richard, the director of Community Development Crisis Centre and the co-ordinator of Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre.

Richard said the city's sexual assault crisis centre has been working on this for more than two years and hopes the end result will address the gaps in the system.

"We're always looking at improving the police response as well as looking at access to support services, counsellors and for the clinic to be responsible for after care," she said.

"We do have a partnership with the hospital that if someone comes from triage they call ... the person can always refuse if they want, but we're there through the process. We stay with them through the process."

The new team will launch on Wednesday when officials sign the team's operations manual.
http://bit.ly/1DxmbOa  

IN PARTING

"As a child, I heard in my home doctors and ambulance men say, 'Mrs. Stewart, you must've done something to provoke him.' 'Mrs. Stewart, it takes two to make an argument.' Wrong. Wrong!
My mother did nothing to provoke that -- and even if she had, violence is
NEVER EVER a choice that a man should make. Ever."

- Patrick Stewart

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Women's Equality Branch | 551 King Street, Suite A | Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1