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NEWSBYTES - April 17, 2009
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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>.
Also, visit our online catalogue at http://women.gov.ns.ca/library.asp or come visit our library!
CONTENTS AT A GLANCE
/1/ Looking for Mentors and Volunteers
/2/ Gender Aspects of Unemployment Insurance
/3/ Study: Comprehensive Strategies for Deep and Durable Outcomes
/4/ Canadian Conference on the Prevention of Domestic Homicides
/5/ Equal Voice Nova Scotia - Government Is US Workshop
/6/ Zonta Club Afternoon Tea Reception
/7/ Camp Courage - Essay/Video Deadline
/8/ Le Transport De Clare - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
/9/ Advice for Preventing Gambling Problems
/10/ Afghanistan & Beyond - an Evening of Positive Change
/11/ Did You Know?
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/1/ LOOKING FOR MENTORS AND VOLUNTEERS
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Techsploration needs you! The goal of this non-profit organization is to increase the number of women working in science, trades, technical and technology related occupations by assisting young women from diverse backgrounds to explore a wide range of career options in these fields. Volunteers working in non-traditional fields travel to various schools throughout Nova Scotia to discuss with young women their future career opportunities.
For more information on Techsploration visit the website at: www.techsploration.ca or contact Stephanie Brown at stephanie.brown@techsploration.ca.
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/2/ GENDER ASPECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
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Employment Insurance has broken the social insurance contract according to Ken Battle who appeared recently before the Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women. His presentation discusses gender aspects of the Employment Insurance program:
“ Virtually all employees pay EI premiums, but only some can draw upon the program’s income benefits and employment services when they become unemployed. The flawed social insurance contract effectively discriminates against low-wage workers, most of them in nonstandard jobs. Women fare worse than men.”
Learn more at: http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/767ENG%2Epdf .
Source: Caledon Institute of Social Policy, March 2009.
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/3/ STUDY: COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES FOR DEEP AND DURABLE OUTCOMES
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This new study is part of Vibrant Communities’ continuing effort to strengthen the knowledge and practice of approaches to poverty reduction, by exploring comprehensiveness” to clarify conceptual and practical issues involved. What are the different ways to pursue comprehensive approaches to poverty reduction? What are the strengths and limitations of such approaches in achieving deep and durable outcomes. [Eric Leviten-Reid]
Learn more: http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/765ENG%2Epdf .
See also http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/760ENG.pdf , about the work of the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation roundtable on poverty reduction. For opinion about the Federal Government’s role in improving poverty reduction, see a presentation to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities at http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/766ENG.pdf ,
Source: Caledon Institute on Social Policy, April 2009.
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/4/ CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDES
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The 1st Annual Conference on the Prevention of Domestic Homicides will be held June 14 to16, 2009 in London, Ontario. The conference aims to enhance networking and partnerships among social science researchers, policymakers and practitioners in their review of domestic homicides across Canada. Proceedings will focus on common risk factors and systemic gaps in policies, training and resources related to domestic homicides. Early registration deadline is April 30.
For more information: http://www.crvawc.ca/section-whats_new/index.htm#conference2 .
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/5/ EQUAL VOICE NOVA SCOTIA - GOVERNMENT IS US WORKSHOP Materials
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Educators and community groups interested in promoting civics education and women in politics are invited to use these workshop materials. This workshop covers the basics of how parliamentary democracy works and shows how easy it is to become involved in the political process. It is specifically directed to adult women, those who are wondering how to take their community service to the next level. For women who are not yet active in public life, workshop presenters hope to ignite enthusiasm for taking on greater responsibilities.
You can download all the materials for the workshop – prepared by Naomi Black and Louise Carbert in Halifax – and host a session for your friends or organization: http://www.equalvoice.ca/idx.php?rl=13:&lid=1 . Naomi Black is professor emerita of Political Science and Women’s Studies at York University and Adjunct Professor of Women’s Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. Louise Carbert is Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator of Political Science at Dalhousie University.
Thanks also go to Brigitte Neumann, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Ruth Bishop, and Eve Burns who shared their expertise.
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/6/ ZONTA CLUB AFTERNOON TEA
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Zonta Club of Halifax cordially invites you to an Afternoon Tea Reception to celebrate the 2009 Young Women in Public Affairs Award at CFB Stadacona , 27 Lorne Terrace, Halifax,on May 12. This year’s winner is Lindsay Wilcott, Cole Harbour District High School. The guest speaker will be Michele Raymond (NDP) MLA.
For tickets, $10 each in support of the YWPA Program, contact Kathryn Patterson, (902) 225-3953, kathrynpatterson@ns.sympatico.ca by May 8. For more information about the Zonta Club of Halifax: http://www.zontadistrict1.org/halifax_ns .
For more details about this event go to: http://women.gov.ns.ca/calendar.asp .
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/7/ CAMP COURAGE - ESSAY / VIDEO DEADLINE
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A reminder that the Camp Courage essay or short video deadline is April 30, 2009. Please encourage youth in your neighbourhood to apply. Details are available at the following website: http://www.campcourage.ca/camp.html .
A 5-minute promotional video about Camp Courage is available on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvj_R_FYYvs . A 15-minute promotional video is available from Andréa Speranza, Firefighter Founder/Executive Director Camp Courage, phone: 902-876-5081/902 488-1188 or email: onestop@eastlink.ca .
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/8/ LE TRANSPORT DE CLARE - RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
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Le Transport de Clare Society is celebrating its 14th year on the road with a new bus, thanks to government funding and great community support. In honour of the occasion, the society is holding a “Ribbon Cutting” ceremony on Saturday, April 18 at 11a.m. at the Little Brook Fire Hall off exit 29. For more information visit our website at: http://women.gov.ns.ca/calendar.asp .
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/9/ ADVICE FOR PREVENTING GAMBLING PROBLEMS
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A new resource called "Best Advice for Preventing Gambling Problems in Nova Scotia" was published recently by the Department of Health Promotion and Protection, the document is available at:
http://www.nsgamingfoundation.org/uploads/Best_Advice_Gambling_Problems.pdf .
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/10/ AFGHANISTAN & BEYOND - AN EVENING OF POSITIVE CHANGE
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Join the organizers on May 14th to hear real accounts of Afghanistan and beyond from Canadian soldier Captain Trevor Greene, delivering his first motivational speech since recovering from a near-fatal attack. Captain Greene will be joined by Juno Award winning singer Jully Black and Gemini Award winning documentary filmmaker, PEN President and human rights activist Nelofer Pazira.
For more details go to our website at: http://women.gov.ns.ca/calendar.asp . The event focuses on not losing sight of the women and children who are counting on us all.
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/11/ DID YOU KNOW?...
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That Envision Halifax is involved in community building across Halifax Regional Municipality through participation in various community initiatives? For more information visit: http://www.envisionhalifax.ca .
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NEXT ISSUE – May 1
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