STRATHROY, ON, May 23, 2019 /CNW/ - Women's organizations provide vital services in our communities, supporting women and girls to be financially secure, free from violence, and able to fully participate in all aspects of our economy and society. Yet for far too long they have been chronically underfunded, underestimated and undermined. The Government of Canada recognizes that women's organizations are the lifeblood of the women's movement and that maintaining and growing their ability to do this important work is the most effective way to advance gender equality.
That's why today, Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science and Sport and to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility (Accessibility), and Member of Parliament for London West, and Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced that the Government of Canada is investing close to $1.7 million in nine women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women in southwestern Ontario.
Parliamentary Secretary Young and MP Fragiskatos highlighted the organizations that will receive funding (please see the Backgrounder for more information and testimonials):
- Canadian Federation of University Women London-Club;
- Hiatus House;
- Huron Women's Shelter, Second Stage Housing and Counselling Services;
- Perth County Transition Home for Women (Optimism Place Women's Shelter and Support Services);
- Réseau-Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l'Ontario;
- Single Women in Motherhood Training (S.W.I.M.);
- The Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women;
- Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor; and
- Women's Rural Resource Centre.
These are just nine of the more than 250 women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women across Canada receiving funding under the Government of Canada's Capacity-building Fund. This investment stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada.
Quotes
"With our historic investment, we recognize the women and women's organizations breaking through barriers and express our gratitude to those who have been doing this work for decades on little more than a shoestring budget. The women's movement across Canada has been asking for a reliable, predictable and accessible source of funds to ensure the sustainability of their work; our government listened. With stable and flexible funding, we are helping these organizations in southwestern Ontario so they can grow and endure, because we know that investing in women's organizations is the most effective way to advance gender equality. By supporting a movement that has achieved amazing results, we are growing the middle class, strengthening families and communities, and creating lasting change that benefits everyone."
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality
"Women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women make real, tangible differences within our communities across southwestern Ontario. With today's announcement, we intend to demonstrate our continual commitment to supporting the effective resources and solutions that pave the way towards gender equality."
Kate Young
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science and Sport and to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility (Accessibility)
Member of Parliament for London West
"We are proud to support these deserving organizations and the vital work that they carry out in Southwestern Ontario each and every day. By investing in the organizations that support women and girls, we also invest in Canada's future."
Peter Fragiskatos
Member of Parliament for London North Centre
Quick Facts
- Budget 2018 announced $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada. Adding to this historic investment, Budget 2019 proposes to invest a further $160 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, in the Department for Women and Gender Equality's Women's Program. This means that by 2023–24, the Women's Program, which supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance equality by addressing systemic barriers, will total $100 million annually.
- This funding will enable women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress while recognizing and addressing the diverse experiences of gender and inequality across the country.
- Canada will host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference from June 3 to 6, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Held every three years, it is the world's largest gathering on gender equality and the health, rights and well-being of women and girls.
- The conference is part of a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide and give voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and those living in conflict and crisis settings. It will bring together more than 7,000 individuals—world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, youth and journalists—from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people joining virtually.
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Backgrounder
Department for Women and Gender Equality – Women's Program
One of the ways the Department for Women and Gender Equality advances gender equality in Canada is by providing funding to eligible organizations through the Women's Program. Projects are selected via calls for proposals on specific themes, as well as through a continuous intake process that allows the Women's Program to address emerging issues as they arise.
The Women's Program funds projects that address systemic barriers to women's equality in three priority areas: ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles.
Capacity-building Call for Proposals
In October 2018, Minister Monsef announced a Call for Proposals under the Capacity-building Fund of the Women's Program. Projects at the local, provincial, and national level were eligible for different amounts of funding, based on their specific need and reach.
On March 8, 2019, International Women's Day, Minister Monsef announced that over 250 women's organizations across the country would receive funding from the Capacity-building Fund.
The objective is to fund proposals that will increase the capacity of eligible women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women, whose initiatives contribute to a viable women's movement in Canada that advances gender equality. Funding will increase the ability of organizations to grow, meet the increasing demands for their services, and continue to work collectively to address gender equality issues. The fund stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to help support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada.
Southwestern Ontario Projects
Today's announcement in Strathroy, Ontario, profiled nine projects selected to receive federal funding through the Capacity-building Fund:
Canadian Federation of University Women London-Club (CFUW-London-Club)
Project title: Coalition to Empower Gender Equality
Funding amount: $216,045
The CFUW-London-Club will hire a project manager and coordinator to work with stakeholders in London and the surrounding area to build a coalition working toward advancing gender equality. They will help with strategic planning, communications, and advocacy, and ensure the sustainability of the coalition. They will also develop a new corporate partnership model.
The CFUW-London-Club was founded in 1920 as a member club of the Canadian Federation of University Women/Fédération Canadienne des Femmes Diplômées. It also belongs to the Canadian Federation of University Women Ontario Council and is affiliated with Graduate Women International.
"Our work centers around the community and is driven by a spirit of cooperation and friendship. Our need to expand and remain accessible to all women requires us to grow in new ways. With this funding from the Government of Canada, we will have the right amount of time and resources to create a strong coalition of local stakeholders while building our own capacity to serve and strengthen our corporate community."
Sue Blair, President
Canadian Federation of University Women London-Club
Hiatus House
Project title: FLS website translation, HRMS & payroll
Funding amount: $72,000
Hiatus House will create a full-service version of its website for the Francophone community in the Windsor area to do advocacy work, build partnerships, and grow community engagement. It will also develop human resources practices to mitigate risk and improve staff recruitment and retention.
Hiatus House opened in 1976 with a nine-bed shelter, growing to occupy its current 42-bed facility in 1989. It offers confidential intervention for families experiencing domestic violence.
"At the moment, we don't have a public-facing website for Francophone women in Windsor who need our shelter services. This new funding will help expand our capacity to serve these women online and in person, and improve our organization's ability to work with the community, clients and stakeholders in both official languages. With this important funding from the federal government, we plan to build even more partnerships and effect positive change through increased advocacy and community engagement."
Thomas Rolfe, Executive Director
Hiatus House
Huron Women's Shelter, Second Stage Housing and Counselling Services
Project title: Capacity Building & Improvement Project
Funding amount: $248,622
The Huron Women's Shelter will address gaps in its policies, programs, processes, human resources, management, funding, and communications to ensure the organization can grow. One of the outcomes of this effort will be an integrated communications and marketing plan, a fundraising plan, a human resources framework, and a strategic management plan to ensure the financial health of the organization. This investment will enable the organization to grow to meet the higher demand for its services.
The Huron Women's Shelter provides a 10-bed emergency shelter, affordable housing, and individual and group counselling services throughout Huron County.
"We can't expand without restructuring and that takes time and precious donor resources. We are thankful that the Government of Canada has provided funding for this project. Our commitment to providing services to the women of Huron County is also for the long-term and we look forward to our continued growth as an organization that works every day to advance gender equality."
Laura Sparks, Executive Director
Huron Women's Shelter, Second Stage Housing and Counselling Services
Perth County Transition Home for Women (Optimism Place Women's Shelter and Support Services)
Project title: Setting Future Foundations
Funding amount: $150,000
The Perth Country Transition Home for Women will lay the foundation for the organization's future growth over the next 20 years by improving governance, fundraising efforts, and community partnership building. A fund development manager will be hired to upgrade current practices and implement a new donor database, and events will be organized to test new procedures and extend the organization's reach to include Stratford and surrounding rural areas.
The Perth Country Transition Home for Women was opened in 1983 and also operates the North Perth Outreach and Resource Centre where women from North Perth can access services locally.
"We're grateful that the Government of Canada recognizes the need for women's groups to have reliable funding. Our work is demanding and growth is challenging to manage without dedicated funds. Our future depends on becoming more sustainable so women in Perth County can always have local access to shelter services. This funding gives us the opportunity to build our capacity with a growth plan that ensures our services are always available to serve women who are victims of abuse or domestic violence."
Jasmine Clark, Executive Director
Perth Country Transition Home for Women (Optimism Place Women's Shelter and Support Services)
Réseau-Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l'Ontario (RFSOO)
Project title: Metamorphosis
Funding amount: $233,319
RFSOO will improve its governance, human resources, and management to better address the needs of Francophone women in southwestern Ontario. It will recruit and encourage women to take leadership roles in this transformation to ensure that the new project is built for women, by women.
RFSOO is a non-profit organization serving women in Francophone communities in southwestern Ontario. Prevention, awareness and education are a large part of its work to end violence against women. RFSOO offers services in Sarnia, Windsor, Chatham, London and southwestern Ontario.
"With this new funding from the federal government, we can restructure our organization with a leadership model that is designed by women, for women. Survivors of gender-based violence have valuable insight into what types of services and responses are required, and with their help and our background, we will collaborate to better serve the Francophone women of southwestern Ontario."
Mariah Amor, Executive Director
Réseau-Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l'Ontario
Single Women in Motherhood Training (S.W.I.M.)
Project title: M.I.C. Mothers in Cleaning; Empowering Women through Social Enterprise
Funding amount: $49,995
Mothers in Cleaning will set the groundwork to establish a social enterprise that will support S.W.I.M.'s empowerment programs. Once set up, the social enterprise will provide income for single mothers and encourage them to be their own agents of change.
S.W.I.M is a non-profit organization that offers hope, support, and guidance to single mothers. It is committed to providing positive programs that empower lone mothers to develop their full financial, emotional, and intellectual potential.
"Thanks to the support from the federal government, our project will help us build capacity in order to deliver empowerment programs. We need to become sustainable while preparing a group of women, all lone parents, to be the leaders and social enterprise experts of tomorrow. We believe this is the future for S.W.I.M, and a powerful force for change for women seeking to heal and reclaim their lives."
Ann-Marie Ricketts, Executive Director and Founder
Single Women in Motherhood Training
The Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women
Project title: Project Tarjama
Funding amount: $250,000
Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women will increase its organizational capacity through language training for staff and service providers. It will also develop its partnership, collaboration, and networking capacity to increase its ability to support newcomer women and overcome language barriers.
The Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women is a non-profit organization formed in 1982 by a group of women in the city of Windsor who realized that, at the time, new Canadians had needs that were not being met by the existing services.
"We provide a welcoming place for newcomers and help remove systemic barriers faced by immigrants and refugees. This requires us to be agile in our ability to work with people from multiple language families. The funding for our project from the federal government will translate into a more highly trained staff and better services for newcomers who will see that Canada is a caring country and one dedicated to the rights of women and their families."
Olivia Brezeanu, Interim Executive Director
The Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women
Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor (WEST)
Project title: Building Capacity through Technology Advancement
Funding amount: $247,606
WEST will transition to a computer-based case management system and renew its communication strategy to improve its ability to empower women and youth economically.
WEST was started in 1984 as a response to disproportionately high levels of unemployment among women and the difficulties experienced by women attempting to secure training to enter the workforce, especially visible minority women.
"Women working in STEM and other skilled trades is an important arena for the economic and professional growth of women in Canada. Many women who are visible minorities come to us because they need help or have trouble accessing the type of training they want. With this funding from the Government of Canada, we will grow and strengthen our organization's effectiveness to do exactly that. Our role has always been to provide visible minority women with the opportunities, training and leadership to work as skilled workers and reclaim their independence and economic security."
Rose Anguiano Hurst, Executive Director
Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc.
Women's Rural Resource Centre (WRRC)
Project title: Public Education, Volunteering, and Fund Development Capacity Building in Middlesex County
Funding amount: $219,098
WRRC will develop a new strategic plan, a human resources and volunteer management strategy, and increase its efforts in public education and fund development initiatives. This will motivate and mobilize women leaders to branch out and expand their work to the community as a whole. The organization will continue to advance the women's movement in rural Ontario.
Based in Strathroy, Ontario, WRRC is a community resource in education, prevention and support services for gender-based violence and for women and children impacted by abuse. The organization strives to lead change through increased awareness, collaboration and engagement.
"Our resources are always being challenged as we strive to meet the needs of women in a rural setting. To have this new funding from the Government of Canada is ideal. This will give us more time and expertise to serve the women who come to us for help."
Corey Allison, Executive Director
Women's Rural Resource Centre
Associated Links
- Canadian Federation of University Women of London-Club
- Hiatus House
- Huron Women's Shelter Second Stage Housing and Counseling Services
- Perth County Transition Home for Women (Optimism Place Women's Shelter and Support Services)
- Réseau-Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l'Ontario
- Single Women in Motherhood Training Program
- The Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women
- Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc.
- Women's Rural Resource Centre
- Capacity-building Fund Call for Proposals
- Women Deliver 2019 Conference
Follow the Department for Women and Gender Equality:
SOURCE Department for Women and Gender Equality
Braeson Holland, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, 343-549-8825; Valérie Haché, Senior Communications Advisor, Department for Women and Gender Equality, 819-420-8684
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