Status of Women Blog: Women’s Equality PEI
This week on the blog, find an overview of some federal issues that affect the lives of Canadian women on the Expect Equality Every Day 2008 Calendar and also the 2008 International Women’s Day poster… Visit our blog at peiacsw.wordpress.com.
NEW LISTINGS THIS WEEK
1. Oxfam – Public Event
In honour of International Women’s Week, Oxfam is hosting a free public event in Charlottetown
on Monday, March 3: “Powerful Voices – Women’s Rights in South Africa.” Guest Speaker is Glenise Levandal, Oxfam Canada’s Women’s Rights Program Officer from Cape Town, South Africa.
PEI Oxfam members will be available to tell you about new opportunities to get involved with Oxfam in PEI.
The Charlottetown event will take place
at 7pm, Monday, March 3
at Holland College, 140 Weymouth Street,Charlottetown
For more information, please contact Andrea Stewart
astewart@hollandc.pe.ca.
purr71@gmail.com
If you can’t attend the event on March 3 but would like to know more about Oxfam activities on the Island, please contact Jacquie Robichaud, the PEI representative on the Oxfam Maritimes Regional Steering Committe robichajg@pei.sympatico.ca
Glenise Levendal is the Women’s Right and Gender Equality Program Officer for Oxfam Canada in Southern Africa working in South Africa, Namibia and other southern African countries. Oxfam Canada works with counterparts and allies around the world to secure human rights for all. Oxfam combines long-term development and humanitarian responses with research, advocacy and campaigning to challenge the root causes of poverty, injustice and inequality. Oxfam believes that ending global poverty begins with women securing their rights and equal treatment in domestic, labour, community and state spaces.When women’s rights are respected, women are healthier, better educated and better paid. Children thrive and so do families. The benefits last for generations. Glenise comes to Oxfam from her position as Coordinator of the Local Government and Gender Programme at the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP)in Cape Town, South Africa. She has also served as coordinator and lecturer in the Women’s and Gender Studies Programme at the University of the Western Cape. In her work at the Black Sash she took action on issues of domestic violence and rape, labour law, local government, and social security.
Glenise has a Masters Degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of the Western Cape where her research topic focused on the experiences and perceptions of men who have undergone gender training.
She has extensive experience in the theory and practice of development and gender work and has facilitated sessions around human rights, domestic violence, women and gender, government and governance. She has also attended and presented at numerous national, regional and international platforms dealing with women’s rights, gender equality and development.
2. Vagina Monologues – March 7 & 8, Charlottetown
The Vagina Monologues are back! This sexy, saucy, powerful theatre production will run Friday and Saturday March 7 and 8th at the Carrefour School Theatre in Charlottetown. 7:30pm both nights and Saturday matinee, 3pm. Tickets $10 available at the door or in advance at Timothy’s World Coffee. Don’t miss the Monologues that become a Dialogue!
Vagina Monogologues are much more than good theatre. The monologues present strong messages about violence against women and children and champion the sacredness of women’s sexuality. It’s a show that deepens understanding, fosters empowerment and encourages prevention of violence.
Past audiences say, “the monologues are like talking about my life! I love this show!” or “No one show has ever made me feel so good about myself.” If you want to have a meaningful experinece, the Monologues is the best ever!!!” For more information, call 314 4678.
3. Workshops
Journal Writing for Self-Understanding
An insightful tool for writing that will give you many benefits
regarding yourself and how you can live your life better.
Four Tues. Begins March 4, (7pm-9pm),
Cost: $60.00
Decision Making Workshop
This excellent tool for making decisions will help you to make healthy choices
for you as opposed to trying to please others.
March 7/8, Fri. 7-9:30pm & Sat. 9am-4pm
Cost: $60.00
Nurturing Self
A positive and nurturing workshop for people of all ages.
March 14/15, Fri. 7-9:0pm & Sat. 9am-3pm
Cost: $35.00
Information: 892-6585 or myrna@transforming-self.com
Registration form at: www.transforming-self.com
4. Chief Health Officer to Speak on Radon Testing March 10
The public is invited to attend a presentation by Dr Heather Morrison, Chief Health Officer for PEI, on Testing for Radon in Public Buildings. The talk is organized by the PEI Environmental Health Co-op and will take place on Monday March 10th at St Paul’s Church Hall, on Richmond St. at the corner of Prince St. in Charlottetown. Come to chat and enjoy a pot luck supper at 6 pm. The talk will begin at 7:15 and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. The Health Co-op will hold a brief AGM following the presentation.
The PEI Environmental Health Co-op supports those with environmental sensitivities, provides information on healthy lifestyles and advocates for public policy to reduce contaminants in the environment. We are part of the Healthy Child Development Strategy, working with the Province for healthy outcomes for children zero to eight years old.
For more info please contact Marion Copleston, 675-4093 or <peiehc@gmail.com>
5. Interested in Becoming a Global Citizen?
CUSO works overseas in community development. CUSO invites you to Cookies and Tea at Back Alley Music, 69 University Ave at
2-4pm on Saturday, March 8th with 3pm presentation by Danielle Grace,CUSO Alumni & Volunteer Relations Advisor
Contact: Marian White, CUSO Atlantic Outreach
81 Prince St., Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4R3
902 892-2610.
6. The Great Mozart Requiem
is happening on March 21 3:00 p.m.
at Trinity United Church. It includes the following:
THE CONFEDERATION SINGERS
WITH SYMPHONY NOVA SCOTIA
STRINGS AND GUEST SOLOISTS:
SUNG HA SHIN-BOUEY
SUZANNE CAMPBELL
MICHAEL VANDERGAAG
JACQUES ARSENAULT
ALSO FEATURING A MOZART STRING QUARTET
AND CHORAL MUSIC FOR A HOLY DAY.
DIRECTED BY
DONALD FRASER
For tickets ($20) call 1 800 565 0278.
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PREVIOUS LISTINGS
1. International Women’s Day Event, Saturday March 8, 7:00 pm, Georgian Room, Charlottetown Hotel
This International Women’s Day, help celebrate Leaders Among Us – 2008. Island Champions for the Environment are:
- Bethany Doyle and Joan Doyle: Spirituality & Earth Advocates
- Gaia Singers: “O Beautiful Gaia” Singers, Advocates
- Betty Howatt: Farmer, Storyteller, Earth Protector
- Sharon Labchuk: Green Party Leader, Activist, Founder – Earth Action
- Irene Novaczek: Scientist, Marine Products Entrepreneur, Advocate
- Sara Roach Lewis: Founder, Women for Environmental Sustainability
- Jackie Waddell: Island Nature Trust Director, Environmentalist
Gaia Singers…Roundtable…Keynote…Door Prizes…Presentations…Reception
All Welcome – No Charge. Keynote speaker for the evening will be National Water Campaigner of the Council of the Canadians, Susan Howatt. For more info, call Marian, CUSO 892-2610 / Lisa, ACSW 368-4510.
2. Food Security Workshop
We are writing to invite you to an upcoming workshop on food security on PEI, which is being able to obtain enough nutritious safe food needed for a healthy active life without relying on emergency food from food banks or soup kitchens.
Did you know that…
- Every day on Prince Edward Island, children go hungry and mothers skip meals to feed their children.
- Approximately 1 in 10 Islanders report that they experience food insecurity which is not having enough nutritious food for them and their families and worrying about having enough food.
- Our farmers and fishers are struggling because they fail to receive a decent price for the food they produce or harvest.
A meeting on Food Security will be held March 4, 2008 (storm date: March 5 )
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. , Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown
- Healthy tasty lunch from Karin Laronde and refreshments will be provided.
- Funding will be available for child care.
- Moderator will be Marie Burge, Working Group for a Livable Income
The purpose of the March 4 meeting is to share our various perspectives on food security on PEI, increase awareness of food security issues on PEI, learn about the experiences and models of food security networks in the Maritimes, and identify a broad spectrum of members who are willing to participate in follow up activities after the workshop, when we hope to chart a path which will provide much needed sustainable leadership in the area of food security in Prince Edward Island.
Various groups such as the Cooper Institute, the PEI Working Group for a Livable Income and the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance have been working on aspects of food security. The PEI Food Security Network was formed recently as an initiative of three partners: the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance (Access to Safe and Healthy Food Working Group), CHANCES Family Centre/Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the PEI Working Group for a Livable Income.
We feel that bringing interested individuals and groups together to work toward a common goal of food security for all Islanders will be more effective. Therefore, we have formed an interim steering committee and have applied for and received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada to conduct this planning day and, we hope, officially form the PEI Food Security Network.
We have invited a diverse group including community members experiencing food insecurity, dietitians, community activists, farmers, fishers, and other community groups so that we can look at this problem from a broad perspective and find real solutions that will have a lasting impact.
Please RSVP to Kelsey Kennedy at the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance, 620-3672, kelsey@healthyeatingpei.ca.
3. Presentation by Carla DiGiorgio
The public is invited to attend a presentation called “Access of students with learning disabilities to higher education: Issues and Solutions” by Dr. Carla DiGiorgio on March 7, at 4:30 p.m., in the Main Building, 040 (basement) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI).
DiGiorgio is working with research colleagues from UPEI and Holland College, as well as the Learning Disabilities Association of PEI, to find out about barriers and challenges facing adults with learning challenges as they attempt to access postsecondary or basic education in P.E.I. The researchers are collecting data from instructors in these institutions and from various programs to discover where the challenges are for the programs themselves, and what practices can be shared and developed to increase support to adult learners.
DiGiorgio has been an assistant professor with the Faculty of Education at UPEI since 2005 and a research partner with the Social Economy since 2006. Her areas of research include inclusive education, learning disabilities, language and cultural studies, policy and school change, and gifted education. She has a PhD in Inclusive Education from the University of South Australia, and a Master of Arts in Education, Learning Difficulties and Administration from Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.
The Social Economy and Sustainability Research Network, Subnode 2: Inclusion and Empowerment, based at the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI, is hosting the presentation.
The Atlantic chapter of the Social Economy seeks to increase the region’s capacity for a dynamic social economy built on partnerships, knowledge and networks by working with its peoples and community partners to meet their research needs and to influence policy at the provincial and municipal levels.
The goal for Subnode 2 is to bring community partners and academics together to conduct research and to hold information sessions focusing on the theme of inclusion and empowerment of marginalized people in the social economy of Atlantic Canada.
For information about this event, please contact the Institute of Island Studies at (902) 566-0377.
4. Public Consultations
The Prince Edward Island Disability Services Review Committee is asking Islanders to share ideas and concerns through a series of public consultations that will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm as follows:
* February 26 at École Évangéline in Abram’s Village (French simultaneous translation available)
* February 28 at Montague High School
* March 4 at the Souris Hospital (in the downstairs classroom)
* March 6 at Athena School in Summerside
* March 11 at Westisle Composite High School in Elmsdale.
* April 2, consultations will be held in Charlottetown from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and again from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Murchison Centre at 1719 St. Pius X Avenue (behind the Irving off St. Peter’s Road and across from the church).
Sign language services will be available at all events.
A background paper and questions for discussion and written submission is available on-line at www.gov.pe.ca/disability. The questions are as follows. In considering services and supports for people with disabilities: What is working? What are the gaps and problems? What are the solutions? What roles could individuals, families, community, business and government play? Written submissions can be sent to Ascent Consulting Services, PO Box 1531, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N3 or by email to wendy@ascentstrategy.ca by April 10, 2008.
For more information about the Disability Services Review, contact (902) 368-5967 or 1-866-594-3777 or visit the website at www.gov.pe.ca/disability.
5. News Release
One of our regular weekly readers thought this news release entitled “Leading Engineers and Scientists Identify Advances That Could Improve Quality of Life Around the World – 21 Century’s Grand Engineering Challenges Unveiled” would be interesting and informative for our mailing list.
Please click on the link below to see the entire text of the release:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=02152008
6. Yes 4 Youth Toolkit
We are pleased to announce that the Yes 4 Youth Toolkit is now available on line as well as in hard copy.
This Toolkit includes a discussion of the causes of youth peer violence and a listing of programs for age groups 0-6, 7-12, and 13-18. It was produced for the Youth Peer Violence Prevention Committee with funding from Crime Prevention Canada.
Please have a look at the Toolkit at the website: violenceispreventable.com. Click on ‘Youth Peer Violence Prevention’ on the left side of the screen. If you would like a copy mailed to you please contact Anne Nicholson at anne@bghj.com or 892-2096.
7. PEI Business Women’s Association Upcoming Events for March
The Productivity Factor – Summerside
Presenter: Corey Poirier, Island Business News / International Sales Training Institute
In today’s competitive business landscape, it has become more and more difficult for business owners and business professionals to keep up with rising demands. But the question is: are we just being busy or are we being productive? This workshop is designed to help participants truly take the power back, prioritize more effectively, and get more done in less time, with less effort.
Location: Loyalist Country Inn
Date: Thursday, March 6, 2008
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Cost: $15 + GST for members, $20 + GST for non-members
To register, contact Elizabeth Noonan by e-mail at elizabeth@peibwa.org or by phone at (902) 436-0386. Registration deadline: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 4 pm.
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Dealing With Difficult Customers – Charlottetown
Presenter: Sherry Pelkey, The Marrek Group
This session is intended to assist participants in understanding and dealing effectively with difficult behaviours. Topics include: separating the behaviour from the individual to develop a greater understanding of the actions of others, learning the role that the participant plays in a difficult situation, identifying hot buttons in self and other, and developing strategies to encourage positive behaviour.
Location: Best Western Charlottetown (Cabot Room)
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Cost: $15 + GST for members, $20 + GST for non-members
To register, contact Paula Laybolt by e-mail at office@peibwa.org or by phone at (902) 892-6040. Registration deadline: Friday, March 7, 2008 at 4 pm.
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The Power of Gratitude – Montague
Presenter: Tammy Younker, Inspired Life Coaching
This session highlights the simple but yet effective ways in which the lives of our employees and co-workers can be enhanced. Gratitude has the power to change any environment. Build a strong, connected, positive working environment through thankfulness. Learn about the gratitude letter and other ideas to help inject a new energy into your workplace. A work place with people who feel appreciated includes exchanging gratitude freely and frequently.
Location: Active Communities, 540 Main Street, Montague
Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Cost: $15 + GST for members, $20 + GST for non-members
To register, contact Paula Laybolt by e-mail at office@peibwa.org or by phone at (902) 892-6040. Registration deadline: Friday, March 21, 2008 at 4 pm.
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Please note: If you register for any Lunch and Learn session and are unable to attend, please let them know 48 hours in advance. People who do not cancel in advance will be invoiced.
8. Child Protection Act Public Consultation Schedule Announced
The Prince Edward Island Child Protection Act Review Advisory Committee is asking Islanders to share ideas and concerns about the operation and administration of the Child Protection Act through a series of public consultations in February and March.
The advisory committee will host public consultations that will run from 7 to 9 p.m. as follows:
* March 5 at Montague High School
* March 10 at Souris High School.
The Mi’Kmaq Confederacy of PEI will host a public consultation at 2:00 pm and a youth consultation at 5:00 pm for members of the Aboriginal community on March 3 at Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside.
Individuals or groups can also provide input to the advisory committee through a private and confidential meeting or a written submission. Written submissions can be sent to Patsy MacLean, HRA at cpareview@hra.ca before March 14, 2008.
For more information or to book a private consultation, contact Wendy Hughes at (902) 368-5294 or 1-866-594-3777 or visit the advisory committee’s website at www.gov.pe.ca/go/cpareview.
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For further information or questions specifically relating to these notices, please contact the individual or organization hosting the community event.
