Women's Equality Branch
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All Issues | 2014 Issues

WOMEN FEMMES NB

IN THIS ISSUE:

• INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2015
• NOTICES
• DID YOU KNOW?
• GRACE HOUSE (FREDERICTON, NB)
• FREDERICTON SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE BEGINS SUPPORT GROUP FOR SURVIVORS
• BRUISED WOMAN ON BILLBOARD HEALS WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT HER, REMINDS PASSERSBY OF DANGERS OF IGNORING ABUSE

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

NOTICES

NOTE: To Submit a Notice to the WEB Newsletter, please send it in text format (in Word or in the body of an e-mail) to [email protected] by 12 pm on Fridays. Please note that notices will run for a maximum of two newsletter issues. Notices must be no longer than 100 words, and include all pertinent information including but not limited to:

• Title and brief description/purpose
• Phone number including area code and/or e-mail address for more information
• If applicable, event date, time and location including town/city
• Website/link of organization or event for more information

To Submit an Article for consideration, please ensure it is 300 words or less, with a web link to the continuation of the article or for more information if available.

Trades & Tech Gala for Girls – MONCTON. There will be a Trades & Tech Gala for Girls event on Thursday, March 26^th, 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at NBCC Moncton. 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 of charge and a pizza dinner is provided. To register or for more info, please visit our website: http://bit.ly/1t4vDXB, email [email protected] or call 506-462-5910.

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, check out the following link:    ABC current opportunities  

Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre Seeks Volunteers. Join the women at the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and help support victims of sexual assault. Volunteer training begins in April. Applications accepted until March 20th. Call the Centre at 506-454-0460 or email [email protected] for more information.

30 Under 30: Canada’s Coolest, Smartest Game-Changers -Meet the Canadian women who are changing the world. Among them is Sorcha Beirne (17 year old Founder of the Fredericton Youth Feminists) http://www.flare.com/culture/flare-30-under-30-canada-smartest-coolest-women/#gallery_page4

Leadership Capacity Grants 2015. Girls Action will provide a total of ten (10) grants of up to $1000 to young women from across Canada to help them develop innovative actions and leadership initiatives in their communities.  To apply, please complete the online form before March 20th, 2015. We ask that you complete your action between May 1st and June 30th, 2015. For more information and details on criteria, contact: [email protected]  or  [email protected]; 1-888-948-1112; http://girlsactionfoundation.ca/en/programs/leadership-capacity-grants-2015

2015 Champions of Inclusion Awards Celebration, The New Brunswick Association for Community Living (NBACL) presents the 2015 Champions of Inclusion Awards Celebration, featuring renowned Canadian journalist and human rights activist, Sally Armstrong.  Friday, March 20, 2015, 6:30 pm, Crowne Plaza, Main Ballroom, Fredericton, NB. Tickets - $50.00/each, purchase through EventBrite http://champsofinclusion.eventbrite.ca or call 1-866-622-2548, option #2 to purchase.

Family Enrichment and Counselling Service, Fredericton is offering two upcoming workshops:
• Introduction to Therapy with the Postpartum Woman, Friday, April 17, 2015, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm , and
• Clinical Intervention Skills with the Postpartum Woman, Friday, May 15, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
$165 for both days (by March 31),  $89 for each (by March 31) or $119 thereafter.  Please note that attendance to Day 1 is a pre-requisite for attendance to Day 2. Fee for the day includes lunch, breaks, and learning materials. Contact: Anne Marie Hartford, Executive Director, Family Enrichment and Counselling Service. Fredericton, Tel: (506) 458-8211; Toll-free: 1-888-829-6777, www.familyenrichment.ca

Family Enrichment - Personal and Professional Development Programs (Fredericton, NB): A Support Group for Women; Raising a Challenging Child; Raising a Spirited Child; Anger Management; Grief Support Group; Raising Stepchildren; How to Be More Assertive; Overcoming Anxiety and Panic… To find out more, call 506-458-8211 or e-mail [email protected].

Family Enrichment - Spring 2015 Lunch & Learn Series (Fredericton, NB): Boundaries in Relationships; Anxiety and Panic; 5 Ways to Increase Mindfulness; Craving Change… To find out more, call 506-458-8211 or e-mail [email protected].

Up For Debate challenges Canada’s party leaders. We invite you to join Up For Debate by signing the petition asking Prime Minister Harper and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau to commit to participating in a nationally broadcast debate focused specifically on women and girls during the 2015 federal election campaign. The New Democratic and Green Party leaders have already agreed. http://upfordebate.ca/

In honor of International Women’s Day, TIME looks at some unlikely revolutionaries, from Joan of Arc and Harriet Tubman to Russian punk-rockers. http://time.com/15991/most-rebellious-women-in-history-photos/

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.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Premier Brian Gallant, who is also minister responsible for women's equality, will be celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of New Brunswick women on March 8, International Women’s Day.

Canada’s theme for this year is, Strong Women. Strong World. Improving Economic Opportunities for All. It highlights the contributions that women make every day to both the domestic and global economy and the importance of ensuring that every woman has the opportunity to help create prosperity.

“As we aim to strengthen our economy through job creation, we need to ensure that employers have access to a diverse and skilled workforce which values the involvement of women,” said Gallant. “We need more women in positions of influence within government, politics, and the private sector.”

New Brunswickers are invited to honour the effort and accomplishments of women and girls in their communities.

“International Women’s Day is traditionally a time to celebrate the successes made in advancing women’s equality and reflect on the challenges and barriers that women continue to face in the home, community and workplace,” said Gallant.

New Brunswickers are encouraged to participate in activities being held around the province on March 8 and throughout the month. Event information can be found on the Women’s Equality Branch website.
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/women/news/news_releases.2015.03.0167.html

GRACE HOUSE (FREDERICTON, NB)

Grace House is Fredericton’s only emergency shelter for women who are homeless.   Women come to us from all walks of life, varied backgrounds, and may have any of a multitude of challenges. They count on us for a safe supportive environment while they put pieces together.

We accommodate up to 10 women, ages from 17-75, and also have a varied population of women with housing that come to us for toiletries and clothing.   Our four bedrooms sleep 2-3 residents each, and we have one shower.  We have a generous community that helps provide toiletries and quality used clothing as well as non-perishable food and gift cards for groceries.  Most of our residents eat at least one meal a day at the community kitchen, but we have kitchen facilities where they can prepare food if it is available. 

When a new resident comes to Grace House, she showers and her belongings are laundered; our washer and dryer are well worn and it takes over 2 hours to wash and dry a medium load.  (They average 10 – 15 loads a day, so they are treasured workhorses). Some women come only with what they wear, but everyone needs a clean set of clothing when they get out of the shower.

Imagine this: a woman in crisis, giving up her privacy and independence, maybe her children or partner, and we try to make her feel welcome and help find clothing to fit.  Worst of all is that we seldom have new bras, let alone good quality ones. Let’s face it, when women find a bra that fits, we don’t give it away; we wear it out.  So donated bras tend to be worn, and usually without legible sizing.  That means new bras (or gift cards to buy them) are high on our list of wishes.  New underwear is also a premium need – at present for instance we are out of sizes small and large. We love new socks but gently used ones work well.  Still reading?  More from our wish list would include * coffee whitener   * laundry detergent  * long distance calling cards  * bus tickets  * Giant Tiger or Wal-Mart Cards  (denominations of $5  - $20) * knitting supplies  * feminine hygiene products – especially tampons  * coffee shop cards  * Shoppers or Lawtons Cards * PJ’s and slippers... 
To donate: Call (506) 450-3001 or drop off items at 273 Brunswick St. any time, any day except for 11:30AM - 12:30 PM daily.  Call ahead not necessary but appreciated.    
https://www.facebook.com/FredShelters
http://www.theshelters.ca/

FREDERICTON SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE BEGINS SUPPORT GROUP FOR SURVIVORS

FREDERICTON – The province’s only sexual assault centre needs more funding to continue their newly formed support group for female survivors of sexual assault.

The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre has been providing prevention and response services for 40 years. This year, they started a support group that hasn’t been tried in almost two decades.

“We’ve talked about it for a long time, for many years, of wanting to get a support group running again but a lot of it comes down to the inability to have funding for a program like this,” said counsellor Maggie Crain.

The group of women meet for two hours each week with Crain, who says it’s inspiring seeing the women step beyond the trauma they’ve experienced.

“Women just really appreciate being in the same room and being brought together with other women who understand their experiences and who are validating their experiences,” she said. “It really ends that sense of isolation and secrecy that sometimes they’ve dealt with for most of their lives.”

Executive Director Lorraine Whalley says the need for this type of services goes beyond Fredericton. Whalley says events over the past year have sparked a deeper conversation around sexual assault, and more women feel empowered to come forward with their stories.

Which means there’s a greater need for services.

“There needs to be a lot more in terms of building sexual assault services especially counselling for victims and survivors,” she said.

While the centre found funding for this group, they already have a wait list of women who want to be involved next time. In the meantime, the centre is working to find more funding.

“It is a struggle,” Whalley said. “Whether it’s through donations or fundraising or looking for other sources of funding, it’s an ongoing struggle and it is frustrating because we don’t create services that the community doesn’t need.” (…)

Continued: http://globalnews.ca/news/1853161/fredericton-sexual-assault-centre-begins-support-group-for-survivors/

BRUISED WOMAN ON BILLBOARD HEALS WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT HER, REMINDS PASSERSBY OF DANGERS OF IGNORING ABUSE

A U.K. advocacy group is using cutting-edge technology to spread the word on the importance of spotting -- and stopping -- domestic violence.

Women's Aid launched an interactive billboard promoting its cause in London on March 5. The board shows a woman with cuts and bruises across her face -- as passersby look at the woman, the wounds on her face start to heal and disappear.

The billboard, which was produced by ad agency WCRS and media company Ocean Outdoor, uses facial recognition technology to sense how many people are looking its way. The more people that are looking, the faster the cuts and bruises fade away, AdWeek reported.

"Often people don’t want to see domestic violence or do something about it because it feels too difficult or they’re worried what they do won’t have any impact," Polly Neate, chief executive of Women’s Aid, told The Huffington Post UK. "They turn a blind eye because of this, leaving women isolated and making it even harder for them to get help."

People standing near the billboard also get a text message that urges them to donate to Women's Aid. The text is sent through Weve, a mobile marketing tool launched by the three largest mobile operators in the U.K.

"Thanks for not turning a blind eye to domestic violence," the text message reads, according to the video above.

In the U.S., more than 38 million women have experienced physical intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Although the issue affects both genders, women are far more likely to be victims. (…)

Continued: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/10/domestic-violence-billboard_n_6833680.html

IN PARTING

"I'm inviting you to step forward, to be seen, and to ask yourself...
If not me, who? If not now, when?"

- Emma Watson
UN Women Global - Goodwill Ambassador

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