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NEWSBYTES - SEPT. 26, 2008
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The Advisory Council on the Status of Women is the provincial government agency that promotes equality, fairness and dignity for women, by bringing forward concerns and advising the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Act. Through research, policy, education, and partnerships, the council works to ensure women have an equal voice in society, fair pay and pensions, freedom from violence, and good health and well-being.
Newsbytes is a free bi-weekly e-mail newsletter with links to stories and contacts.
You can also read the newsletter and about coming events at the Advisory Council's website: <http://www.women.gov.ns.ca> .
CONTENTS AT A GLANCE
/1/ Get Ready for Your next Election at the NS Campaign School
/2/ Statistics on Women in Municipal Politics
/3/ What Makes a Strong Political Leader?
/4/ Take Our Girls to Vote
/5/ Toronto Champions Program
/6/ Canadian Council of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chooses Woman as Board Member
/7/ Women’s Day Out
/8/ Grand Opening of Halifax Adult Day Centre
/9/ Enlightened Caregivers!
/10/ A Young Women’s Sister Fair
/11/ Tired of Telemarketers?
/12/ Did You Know?
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/1/ GET READY FOR YOUR NEXT ELECTION AT THE NS CAMPAIGN SCHOOL
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“In this country, women have a way to go before we have real power. That will only happen when a prime minister fills even 30 per cent of his cabinet with women ... when half of all candidates for political office are women ... when ... a highly qualified woman stands an even chance of becoming our next prime minister.” – Judith Timson, a columnist for the Globe and Mail, September 16, 2008
On the heels of municipal and federal elections, while our political interest is high, the Council will hold the Nova Scotia Campaign School for Women from Friday, October 24 to Sunday, October 26 at Mount Saint Vincent University.
If you are interested in running for government at any level, get prepared at this free, non-partisan school. Our aim is to provide women with the skills and knowledge needed to run a successful campaign. Identify your motivations for seeking political office, participate in intensive media relations training, learn key elements for a successful campaign and have an opportunity to develop a campaign strategy.
The school is an entire weekend of activities and learning, with politicians, party officials and members, communication trainers, and pundits. This year, special guests from the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians will share their experiences and expertise,
Enrollment is limited to 30. We encourage women from all backgrounds and all regions of the province to participate. Brochures and application forms are available on line and in hard copy. Check our website at www.women.gov.ns.ca or Events Calendar at http://women.gov.ns.ca/calendar.asp or call our office for more information at 1-800-565-8662.
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/2/ STATISTICS ON WOMEN IN MUNICIPAL POLITICS
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In the October 2004 municipal elections, 92 women were elected as municipal councillors in the province. Of these, four women were elected to leadership positions, two as wardens and two as mayors. Women now comprise 21 per cent of 441 municipal councillors in NS.
In the same election, 53 women and 58 men were elected as school board members in the province. Six of these members are Mi’kmaq representatives appointed by the Minister of Education rather than elected; of theses, three are women.
Learn about women’s participation in federal and provincial politics at: http://women.gov.ns.ca/leadershipstatistics.asp .
Source: NSACSW, A Few Statistics on Women and Elected Office.
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/3/ WHAT MAKES A STRONG POLITICAL LEADER?
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With school board, municipal and federal elections looming, not to mention the much talked about US presidential election, the word leadership is popping up everywhere. Candidates at all levels have come out early, criticizing opponents’ leadership skills, or lack thereof. Everyone agrees that we need strong political leaders, but how do we as voters weed out the weak? Read more: http://www.halifaxchamber.com/images/policy/what_makes_strong_polticial_leader_sept2008.pdf
Source: Chambers of Commerce, Business News, Sept. 19.
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/4/ TAKE OUR GIRLS TO VOTE
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YWCA Canada, in a coalition with Equal Voice, the Dominion Institute, Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada, Student Vote and TakingITGlobal will be educating girls on the importance of voting and political involvement. How can you take part? Just sign the pledge and take a girl with you to the polls on October 14. To sign the pledge, log on to the Equal Voice website at http://www.equalvoice.ca .
For more information visit http://www.equalvoice.ca or contact Ann Decter, Director of Advocacy & Public Policy, YWCA Canada at adecter@ywcacanada.ca .
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/5/ TORONTO CHAMPIONS PROGRAM
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Canada ranks 51st of 188 countries in terms of elected women in national parliaments (in developing and developed countries) and only 22 per cent of people elected to municipal office are women. To address that demographic deficit a training program “Toronto Regional Champion Campaign: Increasing Women’s Participation in Municipal Government” was developed involving 26 young women from diverse communities to learn the job of a municipal councillor for a year.
This campaign is Toronto’s response to a nation-wide initiative of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Standing Committee on Women’s Participation.
Source: Media Advisory, Toronto Municipality.
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/6/ CANADIAN COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHOOSES WOMAN AS BOARD MEMBER
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Congratulations to Nancy Beth Guptill for her recent appointment to the Canadian Council of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (CCSBE) Board of Directors. Guptill is one of two representatives for the Atlantic Canadian region and will be the voice for existing and potential members.
CCSBE is the only national membership-based organization with the goal of promoting and advancing development of small business and entrepreneurship. As a board member, Ms Guptill becomes part of this larger organization – she was already part of the Women's Entrepreneurship group. She is also the local leader of Ladies Who Launch, one of the largest organizations of women entrepreneurs.
Learn more: http://www.ccsbe.org/index_en.htm
Source: (Summerside, PE) September 24, 2008.
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/7/ WOMEN’S DAY OUT
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This day-long event scheduled for Oct. 18 will offer participants an opportunity to learn about car maintenance, photography, trends and colours in home decorating, Feng Shui, nutrition, belly dancing, yoga, laugh therapy, self-defense, and more.
The Zonta Club of Amherst Area is the only club in Cumberland County whose service projects focus on improving the condition of women both in our own community and worldwide.
Learn more at the Council’s Events Calendar at: http://women.gov.ns.ca/calendar.asp .
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/8/ GRAND OPENING OF HALIFAX ADULT DAY CENTRE
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The new Adult Day Centre in Halifax, at 7071 Bayers Road in Suite 161, will hold an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be staff tours, refreshments and entertainment from 10 a.m. to noon. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 1:30 p.m. Capital Health, Northwood and the Nova Scotia Department of Health are partners on the project. For more information, call 454-3829.
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/9/ ENLIGHTENED CAREGIVERS!
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A group of caregivers who participate in an online support forum have developed a way to raise awareness about caregivers. Place Christmas lights in your window on Wednesday, Oct. 1 and turn them on at 8 p.m. local time to show your support for family and friend caregivers. This is an international event. This creative group of caregivers hopes to follow the lights around the globe as time zones change, just like we follow New Year's Eve celebrations around the globe.
For more information, go to http://www.caregiversNS.org .
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/10/ A YOUNG WOMEN’S SISTER FAIR
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The first annual Sister Fair, sponsored by the Women’s Place Resource Centre in Bridgetown, will start Friday, Sept. 26 in support of girls and young women pursuing an education.
The program includes workshops in singing, storytelling, writing, paper art and drumming, and displays and sales of art and crafts. In the evening, seven women will perform at a concert featuring jazz, poetry, and aboriginal and world music. Sunday’s events include a brunch and a drum circle.
For more information on other events visit our Events Calendar at: http://women.gov.ns.ca/calendar.asp .
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/11/ TIRED OF TELEMARKETERS?
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Starting September 30, you will be able to sign up for a national "Do Not Call" list intended to prevent calls from telemarketers to your home, cell phone and fax numbers. Register on-line and at http://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/index-eng.html .
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/12/ DID YOU KNOW....
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The National Family Week (October 6 to 12) has been celebrated since 1985 when it was proclaimed an official week by the Government of Canada. This year's theme is “Strengthening Ties through Family Traditions/Les traditions familiales, un atout pour l'esprit de famille”.
For more information read the letter of support from the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean:
http://www.frp.ca/_data/global/images/resources/Governor%20General_NFW%202008.pdf
and Prime Minister Steven Harper:
http://www.frp.ca/_data/global/images/resources/Prime%20Minister_NFW%202008.pdf.
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NEXT ISSUE – OCT. 10, 2008
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