Participants in a focus group put a strong emphasis on needs related to family law. Among other things, they were looking for affordable or free legal counsel for all families that need it, coaching about court processes, and better access to information and help to sort out child support and custody. They found hard-to- understand terms such as “Maintenance Enforcement” alienating and discouraging. They wanted information sessions to provide clear, plain language information about family law across the province and through neutral public locations, such as Access PEI centres. The Advisory Council suggests CLIA’s work to provide clear legal information could valuably be expanded, with more resources.

A major flaw of the justice system is its historical focus on property rights. Focus group participants were baffled by sentences that seem to value property over people.

Many of the needs focus group participants identified could conceivably be addressed by a domestic violence court option built on a strong model.

Conclusions: Members of the Advisory Council recognize that access to legal aid for family matters is complicated. It is difficult to imagine an amount of government funding that would keep pace with demand. We need to find more diverse, out-of-court options for people, and to promote them and make them accessible. For as long as traditional court-based justice approaches remain the primary way of settling family disputes, demand will continue to outpace government funding for help. For now, and for as long as the court-based model is prominent, lack of access to legal aid will have negative effects for women and their families.

More generally, many other issues discussed in this Equality Report Card have an impact on the justice system, including addictions, homelessness, and mental health problems. Future Equality Report Cards would benefit from looking at activities that depend on partnerships, policies, and programs at every stage of the justice system, from community safety, crime reduction, and early intervention, to court services, sentencing, Corrections, and reintegration of offenders.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE: C

This is an excerpt from the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women 2011 Equality Report Card for PEI, released in June 2011 and based on information updated to May 30, 2011. The Advisory Council is republishing one area of assessment each week on this blog. For more information, visit the Advisory Council on the Status of Women website.

1.  Chairs Circle 2012

On May 15, the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women held its first ever – and hopefully first annual – roundtable of past and present Chairpersons of the Advisory Council. The Chairs Circle 2012 took on the theme of access to justice and was a great success. Here’s a video about the event:

http://vimeo.com/42835178

Thanks to the past and present Chairpersons who took part!

2.  Public Service Announcement

The Latin American Mission Program (LAMP)

invites the public to its
Annual General Meeting
on Sunday June 10, 2012 at 2:00 pm
at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Hall, Stratford

There will be a presentation by Reg Phelan on Protecting PEI Land: Getting Residents Involved.  (Reg wrote his Masters thesis on the history of the land struggle in PEI).

3.  AIDS PEI Special Meeting for New Directors

When: June 12, 6:00pm
Where: AIDS PEI, 375 University Ave., Charlottetown

AIDS PEI is seeking new members for its Board of Directors. Anyone interested in being involved with oversight of the organization is encouraged to attend. People with knowledge of accounting, fundraising or who bring the perspective of a disadvantaged community or minority are particularly encouraged. However, the organization knows that strong Board Members come with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and welcomes interest from all candidates.

The Board ordinarily meets once a month.

For more info contact: alana@aidspei.com

4.  PEIBWA Event

Lunch and Learn Charlottetown
“Difficult Conversations – Ugh”
Presented by: Wendy MacIntyre, HR Specialist, Michele Dorsey Law

You’re beginning to dread going to work.

You love your job: the work is interesting, the location is convenient, pay is good, BUT… you have to work with THAT person. You know the one; just thinking about them makes you feel anxious and you don’t want to deal with them. Having difficult discussions are not only necessary for correcting behaviour, they are imperative when setting the tone for workplace relationships.

Join Wendy while we look at how to identify when a difficult conversation is necessary and how to ease your way through those conversations where everyone can benefit. Wendy is a Certified Human Resources Professional with 10 years in the HR field. She is an interactive facilitator and enjoys hearing others’ stories to create a rich learning opportunity for all participants.

Location: Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, 75 Kent Street, Charlottetown
Date: Tuesday, June 12th, 2012
Time: 12 noon- 1:30pm
Cost: Members- $17.75 (includes GST), non-members $23.00 (includes GST)

To register, please contact Paula Laybolt by e-mail at paula@peibwa.org or by phone at (902) 892-6040 or Toll Free 1-866-892-6040. Registration deadline: Friday, June 8th, 2012 at 4:00 pm.

Please note: If you register for a Lunch and Learn session and are unable to attend, please let us know 48 hours in advance. People who do not cancel in advance will be invoiced.

5.  Award-Winning Journalist, Feminist and Human Rights Activist to Speak on PEI

Sally Armstrong, an award-winning journalist and documentary film-maker will be speaking in Charlottetown on Friday June 15th at the Charlottetown Hotel. Her topic will be “The Dawning of a Revolution” and will address the vital importance of women pressing for their rights around the world. Armstrong has reported extensively on women and girls in conflict zones, such as Somalia, the Balkans and most recently, Afghanistan. She has won many awards including the Amnesty International Media Award, which she has won three times.

Ms Armstrong will be speaking at the Hilda Ramsay fund-raiser event, organized by the women’s caucus of the NDP. Tickets cost $60 or $80 and include the cost of a full dinner. Tax receipts will be issued for $30 or $50 respectively. The reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner will be at 7 p.m.

For tickets or more information contact Lorraine Begley at 675-2611 or J’Nan Brown at 675-3744 or email hildaramsayfundraiser@gmail.com. The Hilda Ramsay fund is used to support women candidates running for the NDP by covering some campaign expenses.

6.  Poles Apart: Writing the Antipodes

An evening of readings that celebrate the Prince Edward Island’s antipodean connections ‘ particularly with Tasmania’ will be held Thursday, June 14, at UPEI’s Main Building Faculty Lounge. “Poles Apart: Writing the Antipodes” will feature several guest readers from Tasmania and mainland Australia, as well as Islanders who have travelled down under.

Guests from down under include Pete Hay, Tasmanian poet and retired geography professor – who is no stranger to Prince Edward Island, serving as Visiting Lecturer at UPEI and popular commentator on electoral reform; Lynda Hawryluk, a writer, writing-workshop facilitator, and Lecturer at Central Queensland University in Australia; and Britta Hartmann, a writer and PhD student at the University of Tasmania, whose research focuses on the literature of islands. Writers from Prince Edward Island include two of the participants in the Tasmania-PEI Writers’ Exchange: Deirdre Kessler, author of the poetry book, Afternoon Horses, as well as several award-winning children?s books; and Dianne Hicks Morrow, author of two books of poetry, including What Really Happened Is This, and a book of interviews on kindred spirits. The evening will be hosted by writer and editor Laurie Brinklow, who is currently doing her PhD exploring island identity at the University of Tasmania. She will also invite members of the audience who have travelled to Australia and/or Tasmania to join others onstage to share a story or a piece of writing.

‘Poles Apart’ will be held at the UPEI Faculty Lounge from 7 to 9 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Institute of Island Studies, UPEI Department of English, and PEI Writers’ Guild, admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

For further information, please call Laurie at (902) 569-5268 or e-mail laurie.brinklow@gmail.com

*************

Professional writing-workshop facilitator from ‘Down Under’ offers two workshops for writers

Dr. Lynda Hawryluk, a writer, lecturer, and facilitator of popular writing workshops in Australia, will present two writing workshops in Charlottetown June 16 and 17, co-sponsored by the Institute of Island Studies, UPEI Department of English, and PEI Writers’ Guild. The Saturday workshop, entitled ‘Writing the Island,’ is for writers of any level or genre interested in ‘writing place’ from the island perspective. The Sunday workshop, called ‘Running a Successful Writing Workshop,’ is open to everyone who teaches writing, either in a workshop setting or in the classroom. Both will be held at the UPEI Faculty Lounge from 1 to 4 p.m.

The ‘Writing the Island’ workshop offers a special bonus feature: participants will be encouraged to present their work in public at a reading called “Writing the Island: The Readings.” The readings will take place on Tuesday evening, June 19, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Confederation Centre Public Library. Emceed by Lynda, the reading is free of charge, and everyone is invited to attend.

The cost for Writers’ Guild members is $15 for one workshop, or $25 for both; and for non-members is $25 for one and $40 for both. For information, or to register, please call Laurie at (902) 569-5268 or e-mail laurie.brinklow@gmail.com

About the workshop, ‘Writing the Island,’ June 16

Islands are places that intrigue mainlanders. They loom large on the horizon, carry secrets and memories on their shores, and are only islands if you look at them from the water. Once on islands, other landscapes become less important; such is their appeal. How we write about islands of all kinds is the focus of this workshop. We will explore islands both familiar and otherwise through our writing, using descriptive prose or imagery-rich poetry.

About the workshop, ‘Running a Successful Writing Workshop,’ June 17

Writing workshops have been steadily growing in popularity for many years, ranging from small-group community workshops to commercially run seminars and conferences. This workshop provides coordinators and keen writers alike with professional development opportunities to enhance and add value to your workshop experience. Practical methodologies and organizational tips and techniques will demonstrate how to make the most of your venue, materials and provide valuable writing experiences for participants.

About ‘Writing the Island: The Reading,’ June 19

The public is invited to share the results of a multi-genre writing workshop held on Saturday, June 16, called ‘Writing the Island.’ Hosted by professional writing-workshop facilitator Dr. Lynda Hawryluk, the reading features workshop participants reading from work that is bound to be rich in island imagery and story. Because the workshop is open to all levels of writing experience, the reading will feature authors both known and unknown to Island audiences. Indeed, for some, this will be their first time in front of an audience.

The reading, emceed by Lynda Hawryluk, will be held at the Confederation Centre Public Library June 19, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

About Lynda Hawryluk

Dr. Lynda Hawryluk is a Lecturer in Literary and Cultural Studies at Central Queensland University in Australia, where she teaches undergraduate creative writing subjects and supervises Masters of Letters and PhD students. Lynda has been coordinating the Idiom 23 Writers’ Workshops on North Keppel Island since 2005 and has facilitated many writing workshops in the Central Queensland region. She is the Deputy Chair of the Australasian Association of Writing Programs and has been published in a variety of academic and creative publications.

Lynda will also be a featured reader Thursday, June 14, at “Poles Apart: Writing the Antipodes,” at the UPEI Main Building Faculty Lounge; and has been invited, along with Laurie Brinklow, to be Poet Laureate at PEI’s PGI Golf Tournament for Literacy sponsored by the Literacy Alliance June 15 at the Belvedere Golf and Country Club.

7.  Documentary Film

The Island chapter of the Breaking the Silence Network will be presenting Pamela Yates’ most recent documentary film

“Granito: How to Nail a Dictator”

Monday, June 18th at 7 p.m.
in the Fellowship Room at Park Royal United Church, 11 Christie Drive in Sherwood.

This film has been described as one of the most compelling,and inspiring documentaries of the year.  It is about the ongoing efforts to bring to trial Rios Montt, a Guatemalan dictator and military commander responsible for genocide of indigenous peoples in that country. Pamela Yates first 1982 acclaimed film about the civil war in Guatemala, “When the Mountains Tremble,” included footage of the military struggle in Guatemala from the camps of both the military government and the insurgents. Twenty years later unused footage for that film surfaced to provide evidence necessary for conviction in court of Rios Montt and helped determine the course of a crucial human rights investigation.

“Granito: How to Nail a Dictator” documents how evidence is being collected for the court case from diverse sources including survivors, an anthropologist, a lawyer and from Pamela’s own film reels from the 80’s. “Granito” means “a grain of sand” and is used in the title of the documentary to reflect how many small contributions , when combined , can result in a powerful result.

Entrance will be by donation. There will also be a silent auction and some Guatemalan refreshments.

8.   2012 Agriculture Educators’ Workshop

Thursday, July 5, 2012; 9:30am until 3:30pm
Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Farm Centre, Charlottetown, PEI

How would you like to take a day this summer to meet up with other educators who are passionate about finding ways to incorporate agriculture into the classroom? Have you ever wondered how you could make better use of that greenhouse at your school? What about having an indoor light garden in the lobby of your school? How about taking a look in that recycle bag to find some unique ways to grow food and other plants in your class?

The theme for this year’s one-day agriculture workshop is “Urban Agriculture”. A few of the topics to be covered at this workshop include: Greenhouse Horticulture Therapy, Making Something from Nothing: Growing in the Classroom with No Budget, Rooftop Gardening and Living Walls, and Setting up Your School Greenhouse. In addition, teachers will have the opportunity to take a walking tour of Charlottetown’s Demonstration Gardens and Urban Edible Gardens or a tour of VanKampen’s Greenhouse. Join us for conversation and a quaint, picnic lunch along the way showcasing Island products prepared by our local chef from The Best Plate Forward.

Sign up and receive an engaging package of current agriculture resources.
Registration will take place until June 29th, 2012
Phone: (902) 892-1091; E-mail: info@peiagsc.ca

___________________________________________________________

SOME PREVIOUS LISTINGS

1.  Call for Community Grant Proposals

The PEI Seniors’ Secretariat is pleased to announce a call for community proposals for 2012-2013 for projects that will help the Secretariat achieve its mandate. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2012. To request further information on this call for proposals and an application form call 1-866-770-0588 or email at seniors@gov.pe.ca

2.  Call for Nominations: Senior Islanders of the Year

The PEI Senior Islanders of the Year Award recognizes and celebrate the many contributions of Island seniors in many areas, including:

volunteerism, artistic achievement, fund-raising, community activities, education, professional leadership, fitness/recreation, and other activities. Islanders can demonstrate their appreciation of an older adult by submitting a nomination for the PEI Senior Islanders of the Year Award.

Nominate someone special today!

To request a nomination package contact the Secretariat by calling 1-866-770-0588 or email at seniors@gov.pe.ca.

Deadline for nominations:
July 15, 2012

3.   Rape and Sexual Assault Centre AGM

You are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre

Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Haviland Club, 2 Haviland St., Charlottetown
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

GUEST SPEAKER:  Linsey McEwen, nurse in the Emergency Department of the QEH, recently certified as a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner).

Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP your intentions by calling 566-1864 or e-mail admin@peirsac.org

4. Upcoming Workshop

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government will be offering a workshop for municipal councillors (both male and female) across PEI, as well as one for the general public.

The Key to Collaborative Decision Making and Problem Solving: Interest-based Skills for Meetings and One-to-One Negotiations – Presented by Kirstin Lund

For Queen’s County municipal councillors
Saturday, May 19, 9-4
Fox Meadow Golf & Country Club
167 Kinlock Road, Stratford

For general public
Thursday, May 31, 9-4
Howard Johnson Dutch Inn
Transcanada Highway, North River

For Prince County municipal councillors
Friday, June 1, 9-4
Rodd Mill River,
180 Mill River Resort Rd. – Route 136, O’Leary

For King’s County municipal councillors
Monday, June 4, 9-4
The Georgetown Historic Inn,
62 Richmond Street, Georgetown

This one-day basic skills building session will focus on the key skills of collaboration: interest-based problem solving. These skills are essential tools for moving forward with good solutions and good relationships and are transferable from committee meetings to negotiations with colleagues to one to one problem solving with constituents.

There is no charge to attend. Lunch and breaks will be provided. Please register on-line at www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

*Kirstin Lund is a mediator, facilitator and conflict resolution trainer. A faculty member of UPEI’s Centre for Conflict Resolution Studies since leaving the practice of law in 1996, Kirstin has trained thousands of people in conflict resolution and communication skills.

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government is a multi-partisan coalition of individuals and organizations committed to increasing women’s opportunities to be elected to government in PEI.
For more information visit http://www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

___________________________________________________

Community Events and Notices are forwarded to you by the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women for your information and interest. The PEI Status of Women cannot guarantee the accuracy of notices or control re-postings, and does not necessarily endorse every notice or event posted.

Note: The deadline for receiving notices/events to post is by noon on Thursdays. For further information or questions specifically relating to any notices or events, please contact the individual or organization hosting the community event.

Notices will also be posted shortly on our blog, Women’s Equality PEI at http://peiacsw.wordpress.com. If you do not wish to receive this weekly community notice, please reply and let us know by typing – Unsubscribe – in the subject line.

PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
PO Box 2000 (161 St. Peter’s Road), Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
tel: 902 368 4510
fax: 902 368 3269
peistatusofwomen@eastlink.ca
www.gov.pe.ca/acsw

→ In the time since Justice Options for Women recommended a PEI family violence court option, both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have proceeded with implementing domestic violence courts; in fact, the court in Moncton has been made permanent after a successful pilot project. The Advisory Council asks: Is there anything that our neighbouring provinces learned that could help PEI meet implementation challenges?

↗ In the absence of a domestic violence court option, Justice and Public Safety is undertaking some good work. Advisory Council members value steps government has taken to address challenges faced by families who have to deal simultaneously with the family and criminal justice systems. Council members also value updates to the Family Violence Act to include same-sex relationships. Other changes to this Act improve recognition of protection orders between provinces/territories to protect victims of violence. The Department is also working towards a system to link civil and criminal orders in family violence cases involving children.

→ A reminder of the value and importance of using and improving tools available through the Victims of Family Violence Act: Women in PEI: A Statistical Review reports that women victims receive at least 95% of Emergency Protection Orders.

→ Advisory Council members suggest it may be time for government to consult the community about community partnerships to support development of a domestic violence court option.

Steps towards a domestic violence court option: C-

This is an excerpt from the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women 2011 Equality Report Card for PEI, released in June 2011 and based on information updated to May 30, 2011. The Advisory Council is republishing one area of assessment each week on this blog. For more information, visit the Advisory Council on the Status of Women website.

1.  Register today to Attend an Elder Abuse Information Event

His honour,  the Honourable H. Frank Lewis, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, invites community members to attend a reception and presentation by Dr Philip Smith on recognizing and preventing the abuse of older adults on June 11 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Government House (Fanningbank).

Note:  Seating is limited and advance registration is required, to attend call 1-866-770-0588 by May 31.

2.  Call for Community Grant Proposals

The PEI Seniors’ Secretariat is pleased to announce a call for community proposals for 2012-2013 for projects that will help the Secretariat achieve its mandate. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2012. To request further information on this call for proposals and an application form call 1-866-770-0588 or email at seniors@gov.pe.ca

3.  Call for Nominations: Senior Islanders of the Year

The PEI Senior Islanders of the Year Award recognizes and celebrate the many contributions of Island seniors in many areas, including:

volunteerism, artistic achievement, fund-raising, community activities, education, professional leadership, fitness/recreation, and other activities. Islanders can demonstrate their appreciation of an older adult by submitting a nomination for the PEI Senior Islanders of the Year Award.

Nominate someone special today!

To request a nomination package contact the Secretariat by calling 1-866-770-0588 or email at seniors@gov.pe.ca.

Deadline for nominations:
July 15, 2012

4.   Rape and Sexual Assault Centre AGM

You are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre

Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Haviland Club, 2 Haviland St., Charlottetown
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

GUEST SPEAKER:  Linsey McEwen, nurse in the Emergency Department of the QEH, recently certified as a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner).

Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP your intentions by calling 566-1864 or e-mail admin@peirsac.org

___________________________________________________________

SOME PREVIOUS LISTINGS

1. Public Meeting on Arts and Culture Strategy

Public Meeting, hosted by the City of Charlottetown’s Task Force on Arts and Culture
Monday, May 28, 7 pm, The Guild, Charlottetown

Everyone is welcome to attend.

The City’s Task Force on Arts and Culture invites the public to learn about its mandate, and to bring ideas and suggestions on how the Task Force can best recommend an Arts and Cultural Strategy for Charlottetown.

A few questions to consider:
* How can Charlottetown best support its artists and arts and cultural sector?
* How can the City build and promote itself as an arts and cultural destination?
* How can it grow its relationship with the arts and cultural community?

If you cannot attend this meeting, please email your ideas and suggestions to charlottetownarts@gmail.com by June 30th.

2. Tension/Trauma Release Exercises – TRE with Joan McDonald

All are welcome Tuesday, May 22, 6:30pm at Health Within Holistic Center, 500B Queen St., in Charlottetown to a FREE TRE information session with Joan McDonald. Chronic or regular stress is held in the body in the form of muscular tension patterns. TRE is a process of doing a few basic exercises and then lying on the floor relaxing and allowing the tension patterns to release. As the body relaxes, so does the mind! On-going stress can become chronic without us even realizing it…we just know we have that sore neck, aching back, short temper, head ache, lack of sleep, anxiety, depression, the list goes on. Joan is offering this free information session prior to her upcoming TRE Introduction Workshop & Follow Up Classes. Joan is one of three TRE International Trainers who has recently accompanied David Berceli, founder of TRE, offering TRE in Japan to Tsunami survivors, victims of violence in South Africa, expats in Thailand. For more information about this free session contact Joan at 394-0189 or joanmcdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

TRE Workshop & Follow Up Classes with Joan McDonald

Joan McDonald is offering an introduction to TRE Tension/Trauma Release Exercises in a day long workshop followed by four classes hour long each, on Saturday, May 26, 9:30-4pm and Mondays beginning, May 28, 6:30-8pm till June, 18, 2012, at Health Within Holistic Center, 500B Queen St., Charlottetown. This combination* has been designed to provide maximum support to learning and gaining comfort and confidence with the process. After completion, participants will be able to continue TRE on their own without facilitation. TRE is ideal for anyone, male, female, young or old, even children who are facing stressors or who have chronic stress showing up in chronic pain, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, mobility limitations, anger issues, or those who have suffered accidents, falls, traumatic life events like divorce, death, violence. *Workshop or classes can be taken separately. REGISTRATION is required contact Joan at 902. 394. 0189 or joanmcdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

3. Space available at Voluntary Resource Centre

Thank you for your continued membership! As you are aware, the VRC works to build communication and cooperation among voluntary organizations in PEI. We also offer services to member organizations and individuals.

We would like to make sure that our members are aware of the services available from the VRC, as well as some changes to annual membership fees. Most members are aware of the free meeting room, mailing address, and public phone and internet use available, as well as the pay-per-use photocopier and fax machine. We have much more to offer.

Some examples of the services that we’re presently providing:
• Brochure and newsletter design and writing
• Poster design and printing
• Bookkeeping services – making deposits, cheque writing, recording transactions, monthly financial reports, year end preparation
• Letter writing and editing
• Report printing and binding
• Processing memberships and registrations for professional associations

We currently have Office Space for rent! We have three spaces available: two small offices ($154/month), and a large office space, suitable for a small classroom, several people, or additional storage ($220/month).

On an ongoing basis we have many other services available:
Office Services
• Administrative Support
• Bookkeeping Services
• Telephone Answering Service

Equipment & Supplies
• Photocopier
• Postage Machine
• Fax Machine
• Binding Machine
• Laminating Equipment
• Office Supplies

Offering professional services helps to sustain the VRC as an organization and provides affordable services as needed to organizations. These services are also available to small businesses, and other groups, upon request. If you or your organization is interested in office space or services, email vrc@eastlink.ca or call the VRC at 902.368.7337.

Update: As part of our efforts to make the VRC more economically sustainable, we are raising our annual membership fees. The new rates will be on a sliding scale, inviting individuals and organizations who are able to pay more than the base rate to do so.

The new base rates for VRC membership:
Individual Membership: $50
Organization Membership: $100

The VRC is committed to remaining accessible to all income levels. Lower rates for seniors, students, and those on low income are available upon request.

Kindest Regards, Sylvie Arsenault, Manager
Voluntary Resource Centre, 81 Prince Street, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4R3
Phone: 902.368.7337 Fax: 902.368.7180 Email: vrc@eastlink.ca

4. Health Canada promotes garage sale safety awareness!/Santé Canada sensibilise la population canadienne à la sécurité lors de ventes de garage

Le français suit.
Hello,
Garage Sale season has officially begun and many Atlantic communities are hosting neighbourhood garage sales.

Health Canada has a number of online resources to help guide people when deciding what to buy or sell during these events. It is important to note that everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible to ensure that products being sold meet current safety standards.

Here are several links that include helpful information and tips for sellers/buyers:

Information Advisory: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2012/2012_72-eng.php
Facts for Garage Sale Vendors: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/garage-eng.php
Information for Shoppers of Second-Hand Products: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/info_secondhand-produits-eng.php
Consumer Product Recalls Database: http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/home-accueil-eng.jsp

We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues or members, by linking to the above sites via your community website, Twitter or Facebook.

Thank you for helping the Government of Canada to promote awareness around garage sale safety!

Health Canada Atlantic, www.healthcanada.gc.ca Your health and safety…our priority

________________________________________

Bonjour,

Comme la saison des ventes de garage est officiellement commencée, de nombreuses collectivités de l’Atlantique organiseront des ventes-débarras dans leur quartier.

Santé Canada offre diverses ressources en ligne pour aider les gens à prendre des décisions éclairées au moment d’acheter ou de vendre des articles usagés. Il est important de souligner que la loi oblige toute personne qui tient une vente de garage à s’assurer que les produits vendus sont conformes aux normes de sécurité en vigueur.

Voici des liens vers des pages qui contiennent des renseignements et des conseils utiles à l’intention des vendeurs et des acheteurs :

Note d’information : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2012/2012_72-fra.php
Information à l’intention des vendeurs — Ventes de garage : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/garage-fra.php
Renseignements à l’intention des acheteurs de produits usagés : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/info_secondhand-produits-fra.php
Rappels de produit de consommation récents : http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/home-accueil-fra.jsp

Nous vous invitons à communiquer ces renseignements et ces conseils à vos collègues et aux membres de votre collectivité. Vous pouvez aussi afficher les liens susmentionnés sur votre site Web communautaire, Twitter ou Facebook.

Nous vous remercions d’aider le gouvernement du Canada à sensibiliser le public à la sécurité entourant les ventes de garage!

Santé Canada Atlantique www.santecanada.gc.ca Votre santé et votre sécurité…notre priorité

5. The Best Interests of the Children in Custody and Access – FREE

In this course you will learn: what you can expect if you have to go to court to resolve a custody and access dispute; how the ‘best interests of the child’ can be met; ways to resolve your dispute outside of court.

These sessions are delivered by volunteer lawyers and are free for people who are experiencing custody and access disputes.

Tuesday, May 29th & Thursday, May 31st
6:00pm-8:00pm

The May session of the Best Interests of the Child course is now full – we are taking names for the session to be held June 26 & 28.

To register, please contact:
Community Legal Information Association of PEI
892-0853 or 1-800-240-9798 or clia@cliapei.ca

6. PEI Literacy Alliances is hosting two workshops

Results-Based Performance Management Workshop

When: May 29, 2012, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Where: Room 214, Centre for Applied Technology and Science (CAST) Building
Holland College, Please use the new Kent Street entrance (big glass entrance)

Do you have long-term goals for your organization or business?
Do you struggle to show what the impact of your work will be in the years to come?

Presenter: Dawn Binns, Insight Marketing

Dawn holds a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Adult Education and for the past seven years, worked with the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division as Executive Director.

You will learn to: effectively identify measurements and indicators, create results-based outcomes to demonstrate the impact of your organization now and in the future, understand the Theory of Results-Based Performance Management, move from Program Evaluation to Results-Based Outcomes, and use the Results-Based Performance Management Tool.

Cost: $50 ($40 for non-profits)

To register: Call 368-3620

More info: http://www.pei.literacy.ca/index.php?page=news&id=15

**************************

Accountability Workshop: Top Ten Things Every Not-For-Profit Organization Should Know

When: May 31, 2012, 9:00 to 11:30 am

Where: Room 214, Centre for Applied Technology and Science (CAST) Building
Holland College, Please use the new Kent Street entrance (big glass entrance)

Presenter: Rachel Mella, Chartered Accountant and Senior Associate with Bradley Shea Handrahan Chartered Accountants

Topics: Fraud, Directors Liability Insurance, Policy Manual, Minutes, Budgets, Segregation of Duties, Purchases and Payments, Cash Controls and Receipts, CRA Reporting, and Computer Systems.

Cost: $20

To Register: Call 368-3620 or email jinny@peiliteracy.ca

More info: http://www.pei.literacy.ca/index.php?page=news&id=16

7. Upcoming Workshop

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government will be offering a workshop for municipal councillors (both male and female) across PEI, as well as one for the general public.

The Key to Collaborative Decision Making and Problem Solving: Interest-based Skills for Meetings and One-to-One Negotiations – Presented by Kirstin Lund

For Queen’s County municipal councillors
Saturday, May 19, 9-4
Fox Meadow Golf & Country Club
167 Kinlock Road, Stratford

For general public
Thursday, May 31, 9-4
Howard Johnson Dutch Inn
Transcanada Highway, North River

For Prince County municipal councillors
Friday, June 1, 9-4
Rodd Mill River,
180 Mill River Resort Rd. – Route 136, O’Leary

For King’s County municipal councillors
Monday, June 4, 9-4
The Georgetown Historic Inn,
62 Richmond Street, Georgetown

This one-day basic skills building session will focus on the key skills of collaboration: interest-based problem solving. These skills are essential tools for moving forward with good solutions and good relationships and are transferable from committee meetings to negotiations with colleagues to one to one problem solving with constituents.

There is no charge to attend. Lunch and breaks will be provided. Please register on-line at www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

*Kirstin Lund is a mediator, facilitator and conflict resolution trainer. A faculty member of UPEI’s Centre for Conflict Resolution Studies since leaving the practice of law in 1996, Kirstin has trained thousands of people in conflict resolution and communication skills.

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government is a multi-partisan coalition of individuals and organizations committed to increasing women’s opportunities to be elected to government in PEI.
For more information visit http://www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

___________________________________________________

Community Events and Notices are forwarded to you by the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women for your information and interest. The PEI Status of Women cannot guarantee the accuracy of notices or control re-postings, and does not necessarily endorse every notice or event posted.

Note: The deadline for receiving notices/events to post is by noon on Thursdays. For further information or questions specifically relating to any notices or events, please contact the individual or organization hosting the community event.

Notices will also be posted shortly on our blog, Women’s Equality PEI at http://peiacsw.wordpress.com . If you do not wish to receive this weekly community notice, please reply and let us know by typing – Unsubscribe – in the subject line.

PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
PO Box 2000 (161 St. Peter’s Road), Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
tel: 902 368 4510
fax: 902 368 3269
peistatusofwomen@eastlink.ca
www.gov.pe.ca/acsw

↗ The Advisory Council recognizes improvements to programs that are important to seniors: slightly increased eligibility for the Seniors Home Repair program and substantial investment in the Palliative Home Care Drug program.

↗ The Advisory Council supports government’s work with health and community partners to develop a Provincial Dementia Strategy. We encourage government to continue using partnerships and collaborative models to benefit seniors’ mobility and health.

→ These investments and pilot projects in home care meet Council’s expectations. However, the Advisory Council suggests that home care initiatives are starting from almost nothing and must respond to the increasing demands of an aging population. The Council advises that seniors should be a major focus of and will be great beneficiaries from a poverty reduction plan for the Island. The number of seniors on the Island is set to explode, and reactive policy-making will not be enough: What is the ten-year plan to support them and those who help care for them?

Measures to address the needs of seniors for elder care, home care, and other non-professional services in their homes and communities: B-

This is an excerpt from the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women 2011 Equality Report Card for PEI, released in June 2011 and based on information updated to May 30, 2011. The Advisory Council is republishing one area of assessment each week on this blog. For more information, visit the Advisory Council on the Status of Women website.

1.  Public Meeting on Arts and Culture Strategy

Public Meeting, hosted by the City of Charlottetown’s Task Force on Arts and Culture
Monday, May 28, 7 pm, The Guild, Charlottetown

Everyone is welcome to attend.

The City’s Task Force on Arts and Culture invites the public to learn about its mandate, and to bring ideas and suggestions on how the Task Force can best recommend an Arts and Cultural Strategy for Charlottetown.

A few questions to consider:
* How can Charlottetown best support its artists and arts and cultural sector?
* How can the City build and promote itself as an arts and cultural destination?
* How can it grow its relationship with the arts and cultural community?

If you cannot attend this meeting, please email your ideas and suggestions to charlottetownarts@gmail.com by June 30th.

2.  Tension/Trauma Release Exercises – TRE with Joan McDonald

All are welcome Tuesday, May 22, 6:30pm at Health Within Holistic Center, 500B Queen St., in Charlottetown to a FREE TRE information session with Joan McDonald. Chronic or regular stress is held in the body in the form of muscular tension patterns. TRE is a process of doing a few basic exercises and then lying on the floor relaxing and allowing the tension patterns to release. As the body relaxes, so does the mind! On-going stress can become chronic without us even realizing it…we just know we have that sore neck, aching back, short temper, head ache, lack of sleep, anxiety, depression, the list goes on. Joan is offering this free information session prior to her upcoming TRE Introduction Workshop & Follow Up Classes. Joan is one of three TRE International Trainers who has recently accompanied David Berceli, founder of TRE, offering TRE in Japan to Tsunami survivors, victims of violence in South Africa, expats in Thailand. For more information about this free session contact Joan at 394-0189 or joanmcdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

TRE Workshop & Follow Up Classes with Joan McDonald

Joan McDonald is offering an introduction to TRE Tension/Trauma Release Exercises in a day long workshop followed by four classes hour long each, on Saturday, May 26, 9:30-4pm and Mondays beginning, May 28, 6:30-8pm till June, 18, 2012, at Health Within Holistic Center, 500B Queen St., Charlottetown. This combination* has been designed to provide maximum support to learning and gaining comfort and confidence with the process. After completion, participants will be able to continue TRE on their own without facilitation. TRE is ideal for anyone, male, female, young or old, even children who are facing stressors or who have chronic stress showing up in chronic pain, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, mobility limitations, anger issues, or those who have suffered accidents, falls, traumatic life events like divorce, death, violence. *Workshop or classes can be taken separately. REGISTRATION is required contact Joan at 902. 394. 0189 or joanmcdonald@pei.sympatico.ca

3.  Space available at Voluntary Resource Centre

Thank you for your continued membership! As you are aware, the VRC works to build communication and cooperation among voluntary organizations in PEI. We also offer services to member organizations and individuals.

We would like to make sure that our members are aware of the services available from the VRC, as well as some changes to annual membership fees. Most members are aware of the free meeting room, mailing address, and public phone and internet use available, as well as the pay-per-use photocopier and fax machine. We have much more to offer.

Some examples of the services that we’re presently providing:
• Brochure and newsletter design and writing
• Poster design and printing
• Bookkeeping services – making deposits, cheque writing, recording transactions, monthly financial reports, year end preparation
• Letter writing and editing
• Report printing and binding
• Processing memberships and registrations for professional associations

We currently have Office Space for rent! We have three spaces available: two small offices ($154/month), and a large office space, suitable for a small classroom, several people, or additional storage ($220/month).

On an ongoing basis we have many other services available:
Office Services
• Administrative Support
• Bookkeeping Services
• Telephone Answering Service

Equipment & Supplies
• Photocopier
• Postage Machine
• Fax Machine
• Binding Machine
• Laminating Equipment
• Office Supplies

Offering professional services helps to sustain the VRC as an organization and provides affordable services as needed to organizations. These services are also available to small businesses, and other groups, upon request. If you or your organization is interested in office space or services, email vrc@eastlink.ca or call the VRC at 902.368.7337.

Update: As part of our efforts to make the VRC more economically sustainable, we are raising our annual membership fees. The new rates will be on a sliding scale, inviting individuals and organizations who are able to pay more than the base rate to do so.

The new base rates for VRC membership:
Individual Membership: $50
Organization Membership: $100

The VRC is committed to remaining accessible to all income levels. Lower rates for seniors, students, and those on low income are available upon request.

Kindest Regards, Sylvie Arsenault, Manager
Voluntary Resource Centre, 81 Prince Street, Charlottetown, PE  C1A 4R3
Phone: 902.368.7337   Fax: 902.368.7180   Email: vrc@eastlink.ca

4.  Health Canada promotes garage sale safety awareness!/Santé Canada sensibilise la population canadienne à la sécurité lors de ventes de garage

Le français suit.
Hello,
Garage Sale season has officially begun and many Atlantic communities are hosting neighbourhood garage sales.

Health Canada has a number of online resources to help guide people when deciding what to buy or sell during these events. It is important to note that everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible to ensure that products being sold meet current safety standards.

Here are several links that include helpful information and tips for sellers/buyers:

Information Advisory: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2012/2012_72-eng.php
Facts for Garage Sale Vendors: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/garage-eng.php
Information for Shoppers of Second-Hand Products: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/info_secondhand-produits-eng.php
Consumer Product Recalls Database: http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/home-accueil-eng.jsp

We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues or members, by linking to the above sites via your community website, Twitter or Facebook.

Thank you for helping the Government of Canada to promote awareness around garage sale safety!

Health Canada Atlantic, www.healthcanada.gc.ca    Your health and safety…our priority

________________________________________

Bonjour,

Comme la saison des ventes de garage est officiellement commencée, de nombreuses collectivités de l’Atlantique organiseront des ventes-débarras dans leur quartier.

Santé Canada offre diverses ressources en ligne pour aider les gens à prendre des décisions éclairées au moment d’acheter ou de vendre des articles usagés. Il est important de souligner que la loi oblige toute personne qui tient une vente de garage à s’assurer que les produits vendus sont conformes aux normes de sécurité en vigueur.

Voici des liens vers des pages qui contiennent des renseignements et des conseils utiles à l’intention des vendeurs et des acheteurs :

Note d’information : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2012/2012_72-fra.php
Information à l’intention des vendeurs — Ventes de garage : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/garage-fra.php
Renseignements à l’intention des acheteurs de produits usagés : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/info_secondhand-produits-fra.php
Rappels de produit de consommation récents : http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/home-accueil-fra.jsp

Nous vous invitons à communiquer ces renseignements et ces conseils à vos collègues et aux membres de votre collectivité. Vous pouvez aussi afficher les liens susmentionnés sur votre site Web communautaire, Twitter ou Facebook.

Nous vous remercions d’aider le gouvernement du Canada à sensibiliser le public à la sécurité entourant les ventes de garage!

Santé Canada Atlantique   www.santecanada.gc.ca    Votre santé et votre sécurité…notre priorité

___________________________________________________________

SOME PREVIOUS LISTINGS

1. Special Recognition for PEI Status of Women Executive Director Lisa Murphy

View an excerpt from the video archive from the PEI Legislature yesterday where Executive Director Lisa Murphy was given special recognition by Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Hon. Valerie Docherty; Leader of the Official Opposition, Hon. Olive Crane; and Premier Robert Ghiz.

Click on the following link:

http://youtu.be/j9PxIKwqHmE

2. The Best Interests of the Children in Custody and Access – FREE

In this course you will learn: what you can expect if you have to go to court to resolve a custody and access dispute; how the ‘best interests of the child’ can be met; ways to resolve your dispute outside of court.

These sessions are delivered by volunteer lawyers and are free for people who are experiencing custody and access disputes.

Tuesday, May 29th & Thursday, May 31st
6:00pm-8:00pm

The May session of the Best Interests of the Child course is now full – we are taking names for the session to be held June 26 & 28.

To register, please contact:
Community Legal Information Association of PEI
892-0853 or 1-800-240-9798 or clia@cliapei.ca

3. PEI Literacy Alliances is hosting two workshops

Results-Based Performance Management Workshop

When: May 29, 2012, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Where: Room 214, Centre for Applied Technology and Science (CAST) Building
Holland College, Please use the new Kent Street entrance (big glass entrance)

Do you have long-term goals for your organization or business?
Do you struggle to show what the impact of your work will be in the years to come?

Presenter: Dawn Binns, Insight Marketing

Dawn holds a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Adult Education and for the past seven years, worked with the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division as Executive Director.

You will learn to: effectively identify measurements and indicators, create results-based outcomes to demonstrate the impact of your organization now and in the future, understand the Theory of Results-Based Performance Management, move from Program Evaluation to Results-Based Outcomes, and use the Results-Based Performance Management Tool.

Cost: $50 ($40 for non-profits)

To register: Call 368-3620

More info: http://www.pei.literacy.ca/index.php?page=news&id=15

**************************

Accountability Workshop: Top Ten Things Every Not-For-Profit Organization Should Know

When: May 31, 2012, 9:00 to 11:30 am

Where: Room 214, Centre for Applied Technology and Science (CAST) Building
Holland College, Please use the new Kent Street entrance (big glass entrance)

Presenter: Rachel Mella, Chartered Accountant and Senior Associate with Bradley Shea Handrahan Chartered Accountants

Topics: Fraud, Directors Liability Insurance, Policy Manual, Minutes, Budgets, Segregation of Duties, Purchases and Payments, Cash Controls and Receipts, CRA Reporting, and Computer Systems.

Cost: $20

To Register: Call 368-3620 or email jinny@peiliteracy.ca

More info: http://www.pei.literacy.ca/index.php?page=news&id=16

4. Register NOW!   Women in Leadership: Facing the Challenges

2012 Conference Series
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP:
Facing the challenges

Wednesday, June 6, 2012
8:55 AM – 4:00 PM

Confederation Centre of the Arts
145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown

WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF:

SHARON CAMERON
Chief Executive Officer, Workers Compensation Board

WENDY R. CARROLL
Interim Vice President Student Affairs, University of Prince Edward Island

KATHRYN COLL
Managing Partner, HRA

JENNIFER J. DUNN
Partner, BDO Canada LLP

JEAN A. KIMPTON
Controller, PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning

KRISTY SHAUGHNESSY
Associate Vice President, Human Resources, TD Canada Trust

PAMELA J. WILLIAMS
Partner, Cox & Palmer

Honourable VALERIE E. DOCHERTY
(Keynote Speaker)
PEI Minister of Community Services and Seniors
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

To download brochure for information and to register, click this link:
http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?SA5g-TisA-gDOXm8

Registration questions: registration@fci-cwi.com

5. Old Age Security: Your Retirement Today and in the Future

Join Sean Casey Charlottetown MP at the Guild, 111 Queen St @ 7pm on May 22nd
With Judy Sgro, MP for York West, Jim Sentence, UPEI Associate Professor, & John Kenny, PEI Senior Citizens’ Federation

To talk about the proposed changes to the Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement
Ph: 902-566-7770 Email: Sean.Casey@parl.gc.ca Website: www.seancasey.ca

6. Catch & Release 2012

A celebration of graduate research in Education and Island Studies

Thursday, May 24 3:00-7:00 pm
Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall

Every year, the Faculty of Education at UPEI shares the recent research activity of faculty members and graduate students at a forum. Similarly, the Faculty of Arts celebrates research by students in the Master of Arts in Island Studies program during a recognition day.

This year, the two faculties have partnered to host a joint graduate research event that focuses upon capturing Island-experiences for release into the sea(s) of thoughtful discussion.

Everyone is welcome!

For more information:
Faculty of Education Tom Hilton cer@upei.ca
Master of Arts in Island Studies Laura Lee Howard lhoward@upei.ca

RSVP by May 18
Hosted by Centre for Education Research, and the Master of Arts in Island Studies Program

7. Elder Abuse Community Awareness Grant

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat is encouraging community organizations to become involved in raising awareness of this important issue that affects neighbours, friends and families across PEI. To support your efforts, the Secretariat is pleased to offer community groups a contribution towards your community awareness project.

What is the Elder Abuse Community Awareness Grant?
Elder abuse is a serious and often under reported problem in communities. The abuse of older adults is defined as any action or inaction by another person that causes harm or threatens to cause harm to an older adult. This includes financial abuse, neglect, physical abuse, emotional and verbal abuse and sexual abuse.

The good news is that there is help for people who are experiencing abuse and there are steps that neighbours, friends and family members can take to help support someone who may need help. The PEI Seniors’ Secretariat hopes that by increasing community awareness activities we can work together to raise awareness of this important issue.

How much can we apply for?
Your community group can apply for up to $250. In total the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat has budgeted to distribute up to $5,000 across the province for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2012.

Who can apply for a grant?
Any non-profit organization, community-based coalition, network, municipal government, band/tribal council and other Aboriginal organizations in Prince Edward Island can apply. If you are not sure if you qualify, please call 620-3785.

When is the deadline to apply?
Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm May 31, 2012.

For the rest of the criteria and/or to get an application or if you have any questions or want to discuss your ideas for an awareness activity, please call 620-3785, toll-free 1-866-770-0588 or email seniors@gov.pe.ca

8. Self-Care for Superwomen – Fundraising Evening

“The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.” On Thursday, May 24th, from 5 pm to 9 pm, why don’t you think of yourself and the women close to you when West Prince Family Violence Prevention and KidsWest Inc. are hosting “Self-Care for Superwomen”, a fundraising evening of fun, food, information and pampering for women at the Rodd Mill River Resort (on Highway #136 in Woodstock).

The evening will include a healthy meal, guest speaker Lynn Jones, interactive booths, and lots of great free treatments, samples, and door prizes. Tickets are sold in advance only for $20 per person. Please call 859-3916 or 853-4021 for more information, or to reserve your ticket today. Don’t delay, tickets are limited!

9. Upcoming Workshop

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government will be offering a workshop for municipal councillors (both male and female) across PEI, as well as one for the general public.

The Key to Collaborative Decision Making and Problem Solving: Interest-based Skills for Meetings and One-to-One Negotiations – Presented by Kirstin Lund

For Queen’s County municipal councillors
Saturday, May 19, 9-4
Fox Meadow Golf & Country Club
167 Kinlock Road, Stratford

For general public
Thursday, May 31, 9-4
Howard Johnson Dutch Inn
Transcanada Highway, North River

For Prince County municipal councillors
Friday, June 1, 9-4
Rodd Mill River,
180 Mill River Resort Rd. – Route 136, O’Leary

For King’s County municipal councillors
Monday, June 4, 9-4
The Georgetown Historic Inn,
62 Richmond Street, Georgetown

This one-day basic skills building session will focus on the key skills of collaboration: interest-based problem solving. These skills are essential tools for moving forward with good solutions and good relationships and are transferable from committee meetings to negotiations with colleagues to one to one problem solving with constituents.

There is no charge to attend. Lunch and breaks will be provided. Please register on-line at www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

*Kirstin Lund is a mediator, facilitator and conflict resolution trainer. A faculty member of UPEI’s Centre for Conflict Resolution Studies since leaving the practice of law in 1996, Kirstin has trained thousands of people in conflict resolution and communication skills.

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government is a multi-partisan coalition of individuals and organizations committed to increasing women’s opportunities to be elected to government in PEI.
For more information visit http://www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

___________________________________________________

Community Events and Notices are forwarded to you by the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women for your information and interest. The PEI Status of Women cannot guarantee the accuracy of notices or control re-postings, and does not necessarily endorse every notice or event posted.

Note: The deadline for receiving notices/events to post is by noon on Thursdays. For further information or questions specifically relating to any notices or events, please contact the individual or organization hosting the community event.

Notices will also be posted shortly on our blog, Women’s Equality PEI at http://peiacsw.wordpress.com . If you do not wish to receive this weekly community notice, please reply and let us know by typing – Unsubscribe – in the subject line.

PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
PO Box 2000 (161 St. Peter’s Road), Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
tel: 902 368 4510
fax: 902 368 3269
peistatusofwomen@eastlink.ca
www.gov.pe.ca/acsw

1. Special Recognition for PEI Status of Women Executive Director Lisa Murphy

View an excerpt from the video archive from the PEI Legislature yesterday where Executive Director Lisa Murphy was given special recognition by Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Hon. Valerie Docherty;  Leader of the Official Opposition, Hon. Olive Crane; and Premier Robert Ghiz.

Click on the following link:

http://youtu.be/j9PxIKwqHmE

2.  The Best Interests of the Children in Custody and Access – FREE

In this course you will learn: what you can expect if you have to go to court to resolve a custody and access dispute; how the ‘best interests of the child’ can be met; ways to resolve your dispute outside of court.

These sessions are delivered by volunteer lawyers and are free for people who are experiencing custody and access disputes.

Tuesday, May 29th & Thursday, May 31st 
6:00pm-8:00pm

To register, please contact:
Community Legal Information Association of PEI
892-0853 or 1-800-240-9798 or clia@cliapei.ca

3.  PEI Literacy Alliances is hosting two workshops

Results-Based Performance Management Workshop

When: May 29, 2012, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Where:   Room 214, Centre for Applied Technology and Science (CAST) Building
Holland College, Please use the new Kent Street entrance (big glass entrance)

Do you have long-term goals for your organization or business?
Do you struggle to show what the impact of your work will be in the years to come?

Presenter: Dawn Binns, Insight Marketing

Dawn holds a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Adult Education and for the past seven years, worked with the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division as Executive Director.

You will learn to: effectively identify measurements and indicators, create results-based outcomes to demonstrate the impact of your organization now and in the future, understand the Theory of Results-Based Performance Management, move from Program Evaluation to Results-Based Outcomes, and use the Results-Based Performance Management Tool.

Cost: $50 ($40 for non-profits)

To register: Call 368-3620

More info: http://www.pei.literacy.ca/index.php?page=news&id=15

**************************

Accountability Workshop: Top Ten Things Every Not-For-Profit Organization Should Know

When: May 31, 2012, 9:00 to 11:30 am

Where:  Room 214, Centre for Applied Technology and Science (CAST) Building
Holland College, Please use the new Kent Street entrance (big glass entrance)

Presenter: Rachel Mella, Chartered Accountant and Senior Associate with Bradley Shea Handrahan Chartered Accountants

Topics: Fraud, Directors Liability Insurance, Policy Manual, Minutes, Budgets, Segregation of Duties, Purchases and Payments, Cash Controls and Receipts, CRA Reporting, and Computer Systems.

Cost: $20

To Register: Call 368-3620 or email jinny@peiliteracy.ca

More info: http://www.pei.literacy.ca/index.php?page=news&id=16

4.  Register NOW and save!  Women in Leadership: Facing the Challenges

2012 Conference Series
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP:
Facing the challenges

On now until Monday, May 14
Take 25% off the regular rate when you register

Wednesday, June 6, 2012
8:55 AM – 4:00 PM

Confederation Centre of the Arts
145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown

Register now!
Register 3 people at the same time, you will obtain a free registration for a 4th person.

WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF:

SHARON CAMERON
Chief Executive Officer, Workers Compensation Board

WENDY R. CARROLL
Interim Vice President Student Affairs, University of Prince Edward Island

KATHRYN COLL
Managing Partner, HRA

JENNIFER J. DUNN
Partner, BDO Canada LLP

JEAN A. KIMPTON
Controller, PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning

KRISTY SHAUGHNESSY
Associate Vice President, Human Resources, TD Canada Trust

PAMELA J. WILLIAMS
Partner, Cox & Palmer

Honourable VALERIE E. DOCHERTY
(Keynote Speaker)
PEI Minister of Community Services and Seniors
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

To download brochure for information and to register, click this link:
http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?SA5g-TisA-gDOXm8

Registration questions:  registration@fci-cwi.com

___________________________________________________________

SOME PREVIOUS LISTINGS

1.  The Future of Food in PEI: Ending Hunger Globally, Sourcing Food Locally

Public forum, free admission, all are welcome!
Robert Fox, Executive Director, Oxfam Canada
And PEI farm, fish and food panelists

Friday May 11, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Murphy’s Community Centre
200 Richmond Street
Charlottetown, PEI

To RSVP, contact rebecca.orbach@volunteer.oxfam.ca
Walk-ins are welcome!

Oxfam Maritimes Regional Assembly
Saturday May 12, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Murphy’s Community Centre
200 Richmond Street
Charlottetown, PEI

Want to create a world free of poverty and injustice? Join Oxfam Canada’s (www.oxfam.ca/join) global movement for change! Attend Oxfam’s Regional Assembly to learn more about Oxfam’s work, network with other activists and build skills to make change happen. Be inspired by Oxfam’s Executive Director, Robert Fox. Travel subsidies available. To register, go to http://www.oxfam.ca/mra2012. For more information, contact rebecca.orbach@volunteer.oxfam.ca

2. Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

Film At Eleven presents The Canadian Premiere: Maritime Provinces Tour
HAITI: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO?
with filmmaker, Michele Mitchell

A documentary examining the relief efforts in Haiti two years after the 2010 earthquake.
Millions of People gave Billions of Dollars. Why are at least 600,000 Haitians still living in squalor? Standards for relief are not being met by NGO’s. Do you know how your donation was spent?

Admission: Free. Donations accepted (to defray tour costs)
Film showing will be followed by dialogue with Michele Mitchell

Summerside
Where? Community Church Centre 340 Court St.
When? Monday, May 14, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Contact: Jean Ronahan 886-3296

Charlottetown
Where? St. Paul’s Church Hall 101 Richmond St.
When? Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Contact: Marie Burge 894-4573

Tour sites: Charlottetown, PEI; Summerside, PEI; Fredericton, NB; St Ann’s Bay, NS; Sydney, NS; Halifax, NS; Tour Organizer: Cooper Institute (PEI) with collaboration of the Latin American Mission Program (PEI) and the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation

3. Old Age Security: Your Retirement Today and in the Future

Join Sean Casey Charlottetown MP at the Guild, 111 Queen St @ 7pm on May 22nd
With Judy Sgro, MP for York West, Jim Sentence, UPEI Associate Professor, & John Kenny, PEI Senior Citizens’ Federation

To talk about the proposed changes to the Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement
Ph: 902-566-7770 Email: Sean.Casey@parl.gc.ca Website: www.seancasey.ca

4. Catch & Release 2012

A celebration of graduate research in Education and Island Studies

Thursday, May 24 3:00-7:00 pm
Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall

Every year, the Faculty of Education at UPEI shares the recent research activity of faculty members and graduate students at a forum. Similarly, the Faculty of Arts celebrates research by students in the Master of Arts in Island Studies program during a recognition day.

This year, the two faculties have partnered to host a joint graduate research event that focuses upon capturing Island-experiences for release into the sea(s) of thoughtful discussion.

Everyone is welcome!

For more information:
Faculty of Education Tom Hilton cer@upei.ca
Master of Arts in Island Studies Laura Lee Howard lhoward@upei.ca

RSVP by May 18
Hosted by Centre for Education Research, and the Master of Arts in Island Studies Program

5. Elder Abuse Community Awareness Grant

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat is encouraging community organizations to become involved in raising awareness of this important issue that affects neighbours, friends and families across PEI. To support your efforts, the Secretariat is pleased to offer community groups a contribution towards your community awareness project.

What is the Elder Abuse Community Awareness Grant?
Elder abuse is a serious and often under reported problem in communities. The abuse of older adults is defined as any action or inaction by another person that causes harm or threatens to cause harm to an older adult. This includes financial abuse, neglect, physical abuse, emotional and verbal abuse and sexual abuse.

The good news is that there is help for people who are experiencing abuse and there are steps that neighbours, friends and family members can take to help support someone who may need help. The PEI Seniors’ Secretariat hopes that by increasing community awareness activities we can work together to raise awareness of this important issue.

How much can we apply for?
Your community group can apply for up to $250. In total the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat has budgeted to distribute up to $5,000 across the province for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2012.

Who can apply for a grant?
Any non-profit organization, community-based coalition, network, municipal government, band/tribal council and other Aboriginal organizations in Prince Edward Island can apply. If you are not sure if you qualify, please call 620-3785.

When is the deadline to apply?
Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm May 31, 2012.

For the rest of the criteria and/or to get an application or if you have any questions or want to discuss your ideas for an awareness activity, please call 620-3785, toll-free 1-866-770-0588 or email seniors@gov.pe.ca

6. Participate in Oxfam Canada’s Regional Assembly

Want to create a world free of poverty and injustice? Join Oxfam’s Canada’s (www.oxfam.ca/join) global movement for change! Attend Oxfam’s Regional Assembly in Charlottetown PEI Saturday May 12, 2012. Learn more about Oxfam’s work, network with other activists and build skills to make change happen. Be inspired by Oxfam’s Executive Director, Robert Fox. Travel subsidies available. To register, go to http://www.oxfam.ca/mra2012

7. Self-Care for Superwomen – Fundraising Evening

“The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.” On Thursday, May 24th, from 5 pm to 9 pm, why don’t you think of yourself and the women close to you when West Prince Family Violence Prevention and KidsWest Inc. are hosting “Self-Care for Superwomen”, a fundraising evening of fun, food, information and pampering for women at the Rodd Mill River Resort (on Highway #136 in Woodstock).

The evening will include a healthy meal, guest speaker Lynn Jones, interactive booths, and lots of great free treatments, samples, and door prizes. Tickets are sold in advance only for $20 per person. Please call 859-3916 or 853-4021 for more information, or to reserve your ticket today. Don’t delay, tickets are limited!

8. Atlantic Conference on Crime Prevention and Community Safety – June 2012

The Atlantic Coordinating Committee on Crime Prevention and Community Safety is pleased to invite you to attend the 26th annual Atlantic Conference on Crime Prevention and Community Safety. This year, the conference will be held in picturesque Corner Brook, located on the western side of the island portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The focus of the conference will be on the theme of “Crime Prevention for a Better Tomorrow” and promises to build on the success and hospitality that has been seen at other conferences over the past 25 years.

http://www.acc-cca.org/

The Focus:
This year’s conference will focus on the idea that crime prevention and working together will make for a better tomorrow. There are many groups that must come together in order to make our communities safer places in which to live. Partnerships need to be developed. Community health, mental health, education, employment services and justice must work together for the good of our communities and the citizens that live within it. Our conference will highlight presentations from these different groups.

Venue:
Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, Corner Brook, will be the site of the 26th Atlantic Coordinating Committee Conference, hosted this year by the Citizens’ Crime Prevention Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. This site offers all the amenities for a successful conference including accommodations, catering, conference rooms and recreational facilities.

The conference will be held from June 7th to 10th, 2012. Registration will begin on Thursday June 7th and the conference will conclude with a farewell breakfast on Sunday June 10th.

Registration Costs and Dates:
Early Registration (up to and before May 7, 2012) – $250 per person
Late Registration (after May 7, 2012) – $300/person
Note: Registration costs include all meals from Friday breakfast (June 8th ) to Sunday Breakfast (June 10th ) inclusive. Also included is the Meet and Greet Reception on Thursday (June 7th).

For further Information Contact
Roberta Stanford, 35 Boyle Street , St. John’s, NL, A1E 2H4
(709)364-3669 bstanford@nl.rogers.com

9. Upcoming Workshop

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government will be offering a workshop for municipal councillors (both male and female) across PEI, as well as one for the general public.

The Key to Collaborative Decision Making and Problem Solving: Interest-based Skills for Meetings and One-to-One Negotiations – Presented by Kirstin Lund

For Queen’s County municipal councillors
Saturday, May 19, 9-4
Fox Meadow Golf & Country Club
167 Kinlock Road, Stratford

For general public
Thursday, May 31, 9-4
Howard Johnson Dutch Inn
Transcanada Highway, North River

For Prince County municipal councillors
Friday, June 1, 9-4
Rodd Mill River,
180 Mill River Resort Rd. – Route 136, O’Leary

For King’s County municipal councillors
Monday, June 4, 9-4
The Georgetown Historic Inn,
62 Richmond Street, Georgetown

This one-day basic skills building session will focus on the key skills of collaboration: interest-based problem solving. These skills are essential tools for moving forward with good solutions and good relationships and are transferable from committee meetings to negotiations with colleagues to one to one problem solving with constituents.

There is no charge to attend. Lunch and breaks will be provided. Please register on-line at www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

*Kirstin Lund is a mediator, facilitator and conflict resolution trainer. A faculty member of UPEI’s Centre for Conflict Resolution Studies since leaving the practice of law in 1996, Kirstin has trained thousands of people in conflict resolution and communication skills.

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government is a multi-partisan coalition of individuals and organizations committed to increasing women’s opportunities to be elected to government in PEI.
For more information visit http://www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

10. PEIBWA Upcoming Events

Lunch and Learn – Summerside

“Strategies for Hiring and Retaining the Best and Brightest”
Presented by: Michelle Askew, HR Coordinator with the City of Summerside

Never before has understanding the generations been more important than now as 4 generations work together with very different goals, perceptions and expectations. Michelle will speak about the generations, managing the gap, recruiting and retaining in a diverse market that will be the most competitive in history. She will provide insight and tools to assist you in understanding how to hire and retain the best and brightest for your business.

Location: Loyalist Lakeview Resort, 195 Harbour Drive, Summerside (Across from Harbourfront Theatre)
Date: Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Time: 12 noon- 1:30pm
Cost: Members- $17.75 (includes GST), non-members $23.00 (includes GST)

To register, please contact Elizabeth Noonan by e-mail at elizabeth@peibwa.org or by phone at (902) 436-0386 or Toll Free 1-877-268-2111. Registration deadline: Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 4:00 pm.

Please note: If you register for a Lunch and Learn session and are unable to attend, please let us know 48 hours in advance. People who do not cancel in advance will be invoiced.

Please note: If you register for a Lunch and Learn session and are unable to attend, please let us know 48 hours in advance. People who do not cancel in advance will be invoiced.

___________________________________________________

Community Events and Notices are forwarded to you by the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women for your information and interest. The PEI Status of Women cannot guarantee the accuracy of notices or control re-postings, and does not necessarily endorse every notice or event posted.

Note: The deadline for receiving notices/events to post is by noon on Thursdays. For further information or questions specifically relating to any notices or events, please contact the individual or organization hosting the community event.

Notices will also be posted shortly on our blog, Women’s Equality PEI at http://peiacsw.wordpress.com . If you do not wish to receive this weekly community notice, please reply and let us know by typing – Unsubscribe – in the subject line.

PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
PO Box 2000 (161 St. Peter’s Road), Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
tel: 902 368 4510
fax: 902 368 3269
peistatusofwomen@eastlink.ca
www.gov.pe.ca/acsw

↗ Kindergarten is now part of the public school system. There were challenges along the way, but this is a significant achievement.

↗ Forty Early Years Centres have been set up to provide quality-driven care and learning for children with regulated fees for parents. These will offer over 1,340 day care spaces.

↗ Changes to the Day Care Subsidy Program mean more families can qualify and higher rates are paid to child care centres on behalf of clients. Provincial Early Years Centres will not be permitted to charge rates above the child care subsidy; this means subsidized families will not have to pay extra charges out of pocket at Early Years Centres.

↗ A provincial Child Care Registry has been launched to help parents find information and register for wait lists for their choice of centres across PEI.

→ We celebrate the Preschool Excellence Initiative, and we also emphasize that it is still a work in progress. Most urgently needed are spaces for infants. Government reports it is a priority for 2011 to establish Infant Homes that will increase infant spaces by 72%. To establish the Homes, government will begin offering a start-up grant for equipment and other needs, as well as annual funding of $1,500 per infant. This work cannot happen soon enough.

Additional investment in early childhood care and education that increases quality, accessibility, affordability, and focus on child development: A

This is an excerpt from the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women 2011 Equality Report Card for PEI, released in June 2011 and based on information updated to May 30, 2011. The Advisory Council is republishing one area of assessment each week on this blog. For more information, visit the Advisory Council on the Status of Women website.

1.  Charlottetown Caregiving & Work Roundtable

More than 1 in 4 Canadian employees who are caregivers experience high levels of financial, physical and/or emotional stress that can affect their health, their effectiveness as a caregiver, and their labour force participation. Many caregivers quit their jobs, reduce their hours, experience high absenteeism and forfeit career ambitions and aspirations. Their income drops, their health suffers and their stress levels rise.

Discover how employers are supporting caregivers to reduce stress at home and at work while meeting organizational objectives and reaching goals. Learn more about this exciting project on Caregiving & Work by attending the Roundtable on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
A light snack will be served at 8:30 a.m.

Location: Murchison Centre, 15-17 St. Pius X Avenue, Charlottetown

RSVP: Please fill out a registration form.
http://www.vanierinstitute.ca/charlottetown-roundtable

Please note: To ensure maximum opportunity for engaging conversation,
spaces are limited. Registration is limited to 25 people.

For more information about the Roundtable, contact Sara smacnaull@vanierinstitute.ca or 1-800-331-4937 ext.219.

2.  Habitat for Humanity Info Sessions

Habitat for Humanity will be holding information sessions across PEI for potential home owners on Thursday, May 10th at 7 PM.  If you or someone you know may benefit and qualify for a Habitat home, we encourage you to attend.  For more information call (902) 367-3559.  The locations are:

Prince County:
Summerside Fire Hall, 251 Foundry St.
Tyne Valley Fire Hall, 7078 Route 12

Queens County:
Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, 365 Mount Edward Rd., Charlottetown

Kings County:
Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre, 53 Wood Island Rd, Montague

3.  The Future of Food in PEI: Ending Hunger Globally, Sourcing Food Locally

Public forum, free admission, all are welcome!
Robert Fox, Executive Director, Oxfam Canada
And PEI farm, fish and food panelists

Friday May 11, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Murphy’s Community Centre
200 Richmond Street
Charlottetown, PEI

To RSVP, contact rebecca.orbach@volunteer.oxfam.ca
Walk-ins are welcome!

Oxfam Maritimes Regional Assembly
Saturday May 12, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Murphy’s Community Centre
200 Richmond Street
Charlottetown, PEI

Want to create a world free of poverty and injustice? Join Oxfam Canada’s (www.oxfam.ca/join) global movement for change! Attend Oxfam’s Regional Assembly to learn more about Oxfam’s work, network with other activists and build skills to make change happen. Be inspired by Oxfam’s Executive Director, Robert Fox. Travel subsidies available. To register, go to http://www.oxfam.ca/mra2012. For more information, contact rebecca.orbach@volunteer.oxfam.ca

4.  Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

Film At Eleven presents The Canadian Premiere: Maritime Provinces Tour
HAITI: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO?
with filmmaker, Michele Mitchell

A documentary examining the relief efforts in Haiti two years after the 2010 earthquake.
Millions of People gave Billions of Dollars. Why are at least 600,000 Haitians still living in squalor? Standards for relief are not being met by NGO’s. Do you know how your donation was spent?

Admission: Free. Donations accepted (to defray tour costs)
Film showing will be followed by dialogue with Michele Mitchell

Summerside
Where? Community Church Centre 340 Court St.
When? Monday, May 14, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Contact: Jean Ronahan 886-3296

Charlottetown
Where? St. Paul’s Church Hall 101 Richmond St.
When? Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Contact: Marie Burge 894-4573

Tour sites: Charlottetown, PEI; Summerside, PEI; Fredericton, NB; St Ann’s Bay, NS; Sydney, NS; Halifax, NS; Tour Organizer: Cooper Institute (PEI) with collaboration of the Latin American Mission Program (PEI) and the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation

5.  Old Age Security: Your Retirement Today and in the Future

Join Sean Casey Charlottetown MP at the Guild, 111 Queen St @ 7pm on May 22nd
With Judy Sgro, MP for York West, Jim Sentence, UPEI Associate Professor, & John Kenny, PEI Senior Citizens’ Federation

To talk about the proposed changes to the Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement
Ph: 902-566-7770    Email: Sean.Casey@parl.gc.ca     Website: www.seancasey.ca

6. Catch & Release 2012

A celebration of graduate research in Education and Island Studies

Thursday, May 24 3:00-7:00 pm
Schurman Market Square,  Don and Marion McDougall Hall

Every year, the Faculty of Education at UPEI shares the recent research activity of faculty members and graduate students at a forum. Similarly, the Faculty of Arts celebrates research by students in the Master of Arts in Island Studies program during a recognition day.

This year, the two faculties have partnered to host a joint graduate research event that focuses upon capturing Island-experiences for release into the sea(s) of thoughtful discussion.

Everyone is welcome!

For more information:
Faculty of Education Tom Hilton    cer@upei.ca
Master of Arts in Island Studies Laura Lee Howard    lhoward@upei.ca

RSVP by May 18
Hosted by Centre for Education Research, and the Master of Arts in Island Studies Program

7.  Results-Based Performance Management Workshop

Presenter: Dawn Binns, Insight Marketing

May 29, 2012
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Charlottetown (Location to be announced)

Do you have long-term goals for your organization or business?
Do you struggle to show what the impact of your work will be in the years to come?

You will learn to:
•    effectively identify measurements and indicators
•    create results-based outcomes to demonstrate the impact of your organization now and in the future
•    understand the Theory of Results-Based Performance Management
•    move from Program Evaluation to Results-Based Outcomes
•    use the Results-Based Performance Management Tool

Cost is $50 ($40 for non-profits)

To register:   Call 368-3620, PEI Literacy Alliance

8.  Elder Abuse Community Awareness Grant

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat is encouraging community organizations to become involved in raising awareness of this important issue that affects neighbours, friends and families across PEI. To support your efforts, the Secretariat is pleased to offer community groups a contribution towards your community awareness project.

What is the Elder Abuse Community Awareness Grant?
Elder abuse is a serious and often under reported problem in communities. The abuse of older adults is defined as any action or inaction by another person that causes harm or threatens to cause harm to an older adult. This includes financial abuse, neglect, physical abuse, emotional and verbal abuse and sexual abuse.

The good news is that there is help for people who are experiencing abuse and there are steps that neighbours, friends and family members can take to help support someone who may need help. The PEI Seniors’ Secretariat hopes that by increasing community awareness activities we can work together to raise awareness of this important issue.

How much can we apply for?
Your community group can apply for up to $250. In total the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat has budgeted to distribute up to $5,000 across the province for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2012.

Who can apply for a grant?
Any non-profit organization, community-based coalition, network, municipal government, band/tribal council and other Aboriginal organizations in Prince Edward Island can apply. If you are not sure if you qualify, please call 620-3785.

When is the deadline to apply?
Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm May 31, 2012.

For the rest of the criteria and/or to get an application or if you have any questions or want to discuss your ideas for an awareness activity, please call 620-3785, toll-free 1-866-770-0588 or email seniors@gov.pe.ca

___________________________________________________________

SOME PREVIOUS LISTINGS

1. Where’s My Midwife? Rally for Midwifery May 5th 2012

Rally for Midwifery on PEI “ Where’s my Midwife?”
May 5th, 12-1 p.m. at Province House Grafton St. Side.

Come out and show the PEI Government that women and their families want Midwifery Care on PEI. This is your opportunity to support Midwives and to bring about positive change for all Island Women by supporting the choice of Midwifery that is available in virtually every other province. Speakers from BORN, PEI Midwives Association and the public. Also invited to speak are local women’s groups and politicians. Please contact BORN at our web site http://born-pei.ca for more information. Sherri MacWilliams –Co- Chair of BORN 
Tel: 902-569-4821
 Email: geoffsherri@hotmail.com

A Red Tent Event at Central Christian Church will follow the Rally.

2. Participate in Oxfam Canada’s Regional Assembly

Want to create a world free of poverty and injustice? Join Oxfam’s Canada’s (www.oxfam.ca/join) global movement for change! Attend Oxfam’s Regional Assembly in Charlottetown PEI Saturday May 12, 2012. Learn more about Oxfam’s work, network with other activists and build skills to make change happen. Be inspired by Oxfam’s Executive Director, Robert Fox. Travel subsidies available. To register, go to http://www.oxfam.ca/mra2012

3. Self-Care for Superwomen – Fundraising Evening

“The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.” On Thursday, May 24th, from 5 pm to 9 pm, why don’t you think of yourself and the women close to you when West Prince Family Violence Prevention and KidsWest Inc. are hosting “Self-Care for Superwomen”, a fundraising evening of fun, food, information and pampering for women at the Rodd Mill River Resort (on Highway #136 in Woodstock).

The evening will include a healthy meal, guest speaker Lynn Jones, interactive booths, and lots of great free treatments, samples, and door prizes. Tickets are sold in advance only for $20 per person. Please call 859-3916 or 853-4021 for more information, or to reserve your ticket today. Don’t delay, tickets are limited!

4. Honouring our Differences: Gender and Diversity Analysis

The PEI Interministerial Women’s Secretariat has developed a guide on Gender and Diversity Analysis that is available on their website. Honouring our Differences: Gender and Diversity Analysis has been developed to promote use and understanding of Gender and Diversity Analysis (GDA) tools. Historically, research and product development, and much policy development, relied on able-bodied white male experience as a norm. It was assumed that “one size fits all” when it came to products, policies or programs. The use of GDA reveals more than a few surprises about the value added when differences in male and female – and diverse – experiences are taken into account.

Gender and Diversity Analysis (GDA) refers to the process of giving attention to how gender and diversity affect the experiences, behaviours and needs of women and men. Further, it looks at how to accommodate these differences and needs.

Community members and groups can use GDA so that their policies, their actions in the community and their recommendations to government can better look ahead to potential effects. Using GDA can increase the chances that proposed actions have the intended results for men, for women and for all diverse populations.

For more information and to access the guide please go to:
http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/IWMS_GDA2012.pdf

5. Community Foundation of PEI Session

You are invited to a session on:

Building the Capacity of PEI’S Non-Profit Sector
Have you ever wondered what might be possible if there was a way on PEI to help bring charitable and
non-profit organizations together to:

• share ideas and best practice;
• to support one another where possible; and
• to work more closely together on the broader issues that could benefit the people and
• communities you serve?

If so, this workshop session to talk about some recent initiatives, both provincially and nationally, and to
explore this very question will be of interest to you.

The Community Foundation of PEI and Imagine Canada are inviting you to:
(1) learn about some of the Foundation’s recent initiatives with regard to the non-profit sector;
(2) learn about the key outcomes of the National Summit for the Charitable and Non-Profit Sector
held in Ottawa in November 2011; and (3) share your ideas and thoughts as to how charitable and non-profit organizations may be able to work more closely together on PEI.

Please join us on:
Date: Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Jack Blanchard Family Centre, 7 Pond Street, Charlottetown Presenters: Brenda Cameron-Couch, Imagine Canada; Steve McQuaid, Community Foundation of Prince Edward Island; Heather Doran, Big Brothers and Big Sisters PEI Fee: $10.00 ( to cover cost of lunch and workshop refreshments)

For more information or to register, e-mail the cfpei@pei.aibn.com or telephone 892-3440. The deadline for registrations is May 4, 2012.

6. Atlantic Conference on Crime Prevention and Community Safety – June 2012

The Atlantic Coordinating Committee on Crime Prevention and Community Safety is pleased to invite you to attend the 26th annual Atlantic Conference on Crime Prevention and Community Safety. This year, the conference will be held in picturesque Corner Brook, located on the western side of the island portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The focus of the conference will be on the theme of “Crime Prevention for a Better Tomorrow” and promises to build on the success and hospitality that has been seen at other conferences over the past 25 years.

http://www.acc-cca.org/

The Focus:
This year’s conference will focus on the idea that crime prevention and working together will make for a better tomorrow. There are many groups that must come together in order to make our communities safer places in which to live. Partnerships need to be developed. Community health, mental health, education, employment services and justice must work together for the good of our communities and the citizens that live within it. Our conference will highlight presentations from these different groups.

Venue:
Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, Corner Brook, will be the site of the 26th Atlantic Coordinating Committee Conference, hosted this year by the Citizens’ Crime Prevention Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. This site offers all the amenities for a successful conference including accommodations, catering, conference rooms and recreational facilities.

The conference will be held from June 7th to 10th, 2012. Registration will begin on Thursday June 7th and the conference will conclude with a farewell breakfast on Sunday June 10th.

Registration Costs and Dates:
Early Registration (up to and before May 7, 2012) – $250 per person
Late Registration (after May 7, 2012) – $300/person
Note: Registration costs include all meals from Friday breakfast (June 8th ) to Sunday Breakfast (June 10th ) inclusive. Also included is the Meet and Greet Reception on Thursday (June 7th).

For further Information Contact
Roberta Stanford, 35 Boyle Street , St. John’s, NL, A1E 2H4
(709)364-3669 bstanford@nl.rogers.com

7. Upcoming Workshop

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government will be offering a workshop for municipal councillors (both male and female) across PEI, as well as one for the general public.

The Key to Collaborative Decision Making and Problem Solving: Interest-based Skills for Meetings and One-to-One Negotiations – Presented by Kirstin Lund

For Queen’s County municipal councillors
Saturday, May 19, 9-4
Fox Meadow Golf & Country Club
167 Kinlock Road, Stratford

For general public
Thursday, May 31, 9-4
Howard Johnson Dutch Inn
Transcanada Highway, North River

For Prince County municipal councillors
Friday, June 1, 9-4
Rodd Mill River,
180 Mill River Resort Rd. – Route 136, O’Leary

For King’s County municipal councillors
Monday, June 4, 9-4
The Georgetown Historic Inn,
62 Richmond Street, Georgetown

This one-day basic skills building session will focus on the key skills of collaboration: interest-based problem solving. These skills are essential tools for moving forward with good solutions and good relationships and are transferable from committee meetings to negotiations with colleagues to one to one problem solving with constituents.

There is no charge to attend. Lunch and breaks will be provided. Please register on-line at www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

*Kirstin Lund is a mediator, facilitator and conflict resolution trainer. A faculty member of UPEI’s Centre for Conflict Resolution Studies since leaving the practice of law in 1996, Kirstin has trained thousands of people in conflict resolution and communication skills.

The PEI Coalition for Women in Government is a multi-partisan coalition of individuals and organizations committed to increasing women’s opportunities to be elected to government in PEI.
For more information visit http://www.womeningovernmentpei.ca

8.  PEIBWA Upcoming Events

Lunch and Learn – Charlottetown

“The Anti-Social Network: Should You ‘Friend’ Employees or Blog About Work?”
Presented by: Constance Robinson – HRA

To borrow a sentiment from Spiderman, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ The communication power of on-line social networks not only has the potential for great branding and marketing power through your employees and clients, it also has the potential for risk and liability for employers. Personal and professional boundaries blur when we post information on the internet. This actually raises the bar on assessing the kinds of information and sharing that we put into the either.

Join Constance as she explores some of the workplace challenges of social networking, and best practices for the workplace.

Location: Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, 75 Kent Street, Charlottetown
Date: Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Time: 12 noon- 1:30pm
Cost: Members- $17.75 (includes GST), non-members $23.00 (includes GST)

To register, please contact Paula Laybolt by e-mail at paula@peibwa.org or by phone at (902) 892-6040 or Toll Free 1-866-892-6040. Registration deadline: Friday, May 4th, 2012 at 4:00 pm.

______________

Lunch and Learn – Summerside
“Strategies for Hiring and Retaining the Best and Brightest”
Presented by: Michelle Askew, HR Coordinator with the City of Summerside

Never before has understanding the generations been more important than now as 4 generations work together with very different goals, perceptions and expectations. Michelle will speak about the generations, managing the gap, recruiting and retaining in a diverse market that will be the most competitive in history. She will provide insight and tools to assist you in understanding how to hire and retain the best and brightest for your business.

Location: Loyalist Lakeview Resort, 195 Harbour Drive, Summerside (Across from Harbourfront Theatre)
Date: Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Time: 12 noon- 1:30pm
Cost: Members- $17.75 (includes GST), non-members $23.00 (includes GST)

To register, please contact Elizabeth Noonan by e-mail at elizabeth@peibwa.org or by phone at (902) 436-0386 or Toll Free 1-877-268-2111. Registration deadline: Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 4:00 pm.

Please note: If you register for a Lunch and Learn session and are unable to attend, please let us know 48 hours in advance. People who do not cancel in advance will be invoiced.

Please note: If you register for a Lunch and Learn session and are unable to attend, please let us know 48 hours in advance. People who do not cancel in advance will be invoiced.

___________________________________________________

Community Events and Notices are forwarded to you by the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women for your information and interest. The PEI Status of Women cannot guarantee the accuracy of notices or control re-postings, and does not necessarily endorse every notice or event posted.

Note: The deadline for receiving notices/events to post is by noon on Thursdays. For further information or questions specifically relating to any notices or events, please contact the individual or organization hosting the community event.

Notices will also be posted shortly on our blog, Women’s Equality PEI at http://peiacsw.wordpress.com . If you do not wish to receive this weekly community notice, please reply and let us know by typing – Unsubscribe – in the subject line.

PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
PO Box 2000 (161 St. Peter’s Road), Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
tel: 902 368 4510
fax: 902 368 3269
peistatusofwomen@eastlink.ca
www.gov.pe.ca/acsw

The East Prince Women’s Information Centre (EPWIC) is pleased to announce a women’s march to support safe parks. The March for Safety is in response to increased vandalism in Summerside parks. Members of the public are encouraged to gather at 9 pm on May 3 at Legere Park to join the March.

Andy Lou Somers, Executive Director at EPWIC says the March will raise awareness of women’s safety in city parks.
“Our organization decided to spearhead the Women’s March for Safety after the Heritage Park Memorial [to the 14 women massacred in Montreal] was vandalized. We realized that it was a short step from vandalism to endangering women. The March, which includes three city parks, will demonstrate that women – and those that love them – care about their safety in the parks.”

Somers, who sits on the city’s Crime Prevention Committee, says there was full support from fellow committee members, several promising to attend. She chose May 3 for the event, as the following day schools are closed, giving school age girls an opportunity to experience a unique, empowering event.

The March will take place on Thursday, May 3, starting at Legere Park (Participark) playground at 9 pm, follow Summer Street to Queen Elizabeth Park and finish at the Heritage Park, less than 1km. Marchers are encouraged to bring a friend and a flashlight. Those who wish to show their support, but not march are invited to join the event at Heritage Park at the Women’s Memorial. Men are encouraged to join the March to show their support.

East Prince Women’s Information Centre *** 439-7268 *** epwic@eastlink.ca

You can help by printing and distributing the poster: Women’s March for Safe Parks