Nanaimo Women's Centre

2010-06-10T10:49:00.001-07:00

Go Girl, our new program for young women is about to begin. If you have a girl or young woman in your life who is looking for something fun to do this summer sign her up for this exciting program.

GO GIRL

GO GIRL Is a FREE 4-day workshop, at the Nanaimo Women’s Resource Centre, that is designed especially for girls! If you think your summer is missing something fun, this is your ticket to a jam packed week of awesome times! Along with gardening, dancing, healthy cooking lessons, new age art, and crafts, you will learn about:

- Goals, and how to achieve them

- Personal boundaries, and how to make sure no one crosses them

- Bullying, and how to deal with it

- Positive body image

When is GO GIRL happening?

Week #1: July 5^th – July 8^th 9:30 am until 4:00 pm

Week #2: July 12^th – July 15^th 9:30 am until 4:00 pm

Week #3: July 19^th – July 22^nd 9:30 am until 4:00 pm

Week #4: Aug 3^rd – Aug 6^th 9:30 am until 4:00 pm

Week #5: Aug 9^th- Aug 12^th 9:30 am until 4:00 pm

Week #6: Aug 16^th – Aug 19^th 9:30 am until 4:30 pm

Each day will be lead by experienced facilitators. A balanced lunch and snack will be provided. Don’t hesitate to sign up, as spots will be filled up quickly. If you have questions, or would like to register, please call us or email gogirl@nanaimowomen.com.

2007-08-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

Join us for our Annual General Meeting!

Friday, September 7
Nanaimo Women's Centre
285 Selby

Potluck Dinner 6pm
Annual General Meeting 6:30pm
Live Entertainment 7:30pm

We have three great sets of live music planned, featuring Melanie Williams, the Bash Brothers and Tongue and Groove! Come on out and support the Nanaimo Women's Resources Society and some talented local musicians!

2007-07-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Come and visit us in our beautiful garden!

2007-07-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU to CHLY Radio Malaspina for the opportunity to have an information booth at the 2007 CHLY Street Fair! The June 30 event was a lot of fun. Here's Board member Jen Kirk surrounded by Nanaimo Women's Resources Society information, clothing and accessories.

2007-05-16T16:33:00.001-07:00

May 16, 2007
For Immediate Release

NANAIMO WOMEN’S RESOURCES SOCIETY LAUNCHES EXPANDED WEBSITE
Nanaimo—Services and support for women in the Nanaimo area are now just a click away, thanks to the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society’s newly revamped website. Located at www.nanaimowomen.com, the website was created by Inner Core Design and contains current, comprehensive information about the society, which operates the Nanaimo Women’s Centre.

Visitors to the new website can access local services, learn about Nanaimo Women’s Centre programs and upcoming events, research volunteer opportunities, or find out how to become a member of the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society. Information about how to make donations—be they monetary or other—is also provided.

“There are so many ways to help women in need,” said Colleen Parsley, Nanaimo Women’s Centre Drop-In Coordinator. “It can be as simple as attending an event that supports the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, or bringing in a donation of used clothing, or donating expertise to provide a seminar or workshop for our clients. The new website connects us to our community and informs the public about who we are and how our work to assist women can be supported.”

Located at 285 Selby Street in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter, the Nanaimo Women’s Centre is open from 10am to 3pm Tuesdays through Fridays, and serves women and children through its Drop In and Building Bridges Programs. The Centre is a vibrant, supportive space offering resources, information, workshops and other community events.

Visit www.nanaimowomen.com for more information.

2007-05-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

International Women's Day 2007! Nanaimo Women's Resources Society Director-at-Large Jen Kirk (left) helps keynote speaker Sally Armstrong set up. Armstrong spoke at the IWD Gala event hosted by Malaspina University-College.

2007-05-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

International Women's Day keynote speaker Sally Armstrong--noted Canadian author, journalist and feminist.

2007-05-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

Nanaimo Women's Resources Society Past President Jeannie Martin and current Director Jen Kirk on International Women's Day.

2007-05-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Nanaimo Women's Centre staff members Lesley and Colleen at the March 8 International Women's Day gala at Malaspina University-College.

2007-03-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

Journalist Sally Armstrong to speak at International Women’s Day Event
Women’s struggles and achievements in Canada and abroad are the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations at Malaspina University-College. Events include two ground-breaking films, a gala dinner and silent auction, and an address by internationally-acclaimed Canadian investigative journalist Sally Armstrong.

Films include Daughters of Afghanistan, in which Armstrong exposes the struggle of women in modern Afghanistan, and Finding Dawn, in which acclaimed Métis filmmaker Christine Welsh explores the “Dark heart of Native Women's experience in Canada.”

“We are honoured to be screening these outstanding films, and very fortunate to welcome Sally Armstrong to Nanaimo,” said Jeannie Martin, chair of the International Women’s Day planning committee and past president of the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society. “These women have done a tremendous amount to expose injustice to women and to reveal the strength that women possess.”

Both films will show at 3:30pm on March 8. Daughters of Afghanistan screens in Building 356, Room 109, with Terre Flower leading a discussion after the film. Finding Dawn shows in Building 355, Room 203, with Laura Cranmer facilitating the follow-up discussion. Admission for both films is by donation.

From 3:30 to 6:30pm, a silent auction and community information tables will be set up in the Cafeteria, Bldg. 300. A gala dinner provided by Malaspina catering service will follow. The evening will conclude with Armstrong’s address Women and Girls Last.

Tickets to the gala dinner and address are $40, available from the Malaspina University-College Students’ Union Office, the Malaspina Welcome Centre, and the Nanaimo Women's Centre at 285 Selby Street.

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8. Throughout the world, thousands of events are held to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. Nanaimo’s 2007 International Women’s Day event is co-sponsored by Malaspina University-College President's Office; Malaspina Faculty Association; Malaspina’s Students’ Union, Department of Media Studies, and Human Rights Office; Canadian Federation of University Women, Nanaimo; and the Zonta Club of Nanaimo.

Malaspina University-College is located at 900 Fifth Street. For more information, contact the Nanaimo Women's Centre at 753-0633.

2007-03-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

International Women's Day: As Explained by the United Nations
International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.

The idea of an International Women's Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies. Following is a brief chronology of the most important events:

1909

In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of that month through 1913.

1910

The Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women's Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women's rights and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament. No fixed date was selected for the observance.

1911

As a result of the decision taken at Copenhagen the previous year, International Women's Day was marked for the first time (19 March) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded the right to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job.

Less than a week later, on 25 March, the tragic Triangle Fire in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working girls, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This event had a significant impact on labour legislation in the United States, and the working conditions leading up to the disaster were invoked during subsequent observances of International Women's Day.

1913-1914

As part of the peace movement brewing on the eve of World War I, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with their sisters.

1917

With 2 million Russian soldiers dead in the war, Russian women again chose the last Sunday in February to strike for "bread and peace". Political leaders opposed the timing of the strike, but the women went on anyway. The rest is history: Four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. That historic Sunday fell on 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia, but on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere.

Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women's movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point for coordinated efforts to demand women's rights and participation in the political and economic process. Increasingly, International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women's rights.

The Role of the United Nations
Few causes promoted by the United Nations have generated more intense and widespread support than the campaign to promote and protect the equal rights of women. The Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco in 1945, was the first international agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right. Since then, the Organization has helped create a historic legacy of internationally agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide.

Over the years, United Nations action for the advancement of women has taken four clear directions: promotion of legal measures; mobilization of public opinion and international action; training and research, including the compilation of gender desegregated statistics; and direct assistance to disadvantaged groups. Today a central organizing principle of the work of the United Nations is that no enduring solution to society's most threatening social, economic and political problems can be found without the full participation, and the full empowerment, of the world's women.

2007-03-02T12:52:00.000-08:00

Fearless and Feminine
Empowerment Drumming Workshop For Women

Women are invited to take part in a powerful rhythmical adventure with instructor Pamela Lynn. On Saturday, March 10 at Fairwinds Community Centre, Lynn will offer her popular Fearless and Feminine empowerment drumming workshop as a fundraiser for the Nanaimo Women’s Centre.

The Fearless and Feminine workshop is for women who like trying something different in a supportive environment, enjoy having an outlet for creative self expression, and have an adventurous spirit that wants to get out and have some fun. Absolutely no musical experience or ability is needed, and all world drums and percussion instruments are provided.

Fearless and Feminine runs from 2-4pm March 10 at 3455 Fairwinds Drive, Nanoose Bay. Cost is $25 and space is limited.

For more information, call the Nanaimo Women’s Centre at 753-0633.

2007-02-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

Dr. Paulette Roscoe to Lecture in Support of Women’s Centre

Nanaimo—Naturopathic physician, educator and writer Dr. Paulette Roscoe is sharing her knowledge with local women in support of the Nanaimo Women’s Centre. On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Dr. Roscoe will offer Menopause Naturally, the first in a series of naturopathic lectures related to women’s health. Proceeds from this lecture will be donated to the Nanaimo Women’s Centre.

In many cultures in the world, women do not experience bothersome menopausal symptoms. This workshop for both pre-menopausal and menopausal women offers information on nutrition, herbs, and lifestyle suggestions which will help prepare women for a natural, healthy and positive menopause.

Based on the belief that healing of the body, mind and spirit are needed for optimal health, Dr. Roscoe’s therapeutic approach includes lifestyle assessment, nutritional and botanical medicine, and counselling.

All women are welcome at Menopause Naturally, from 7 to 9pm Feb. 21 at the Maffeo Auditorium, Community Services Building, 285 Prideaux Street. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

For more information or to buy tickets, contact the Nanaimo Women’s Centre at 285 Selby Street, 753-0633.

Dr. Roscoe’s next lecture, Surviving PMS, is scheduled for April 18. This lecture will also be a fundraiser for the Nanaimo Women’s Centre.

2007-02-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

The Vagina Monologues
(by Eve Ensler)

March 2 and 3 at Malaspina University-College
Building 356 Room 109/111 (lecture theatre)
7:30pm

Tickets $15, students and seniors $12
available at the Nanaimo Women's Centre
753-0633

Eve Ensler's dynamic play will be performed at 1101 venues this V-Day season. Nanaimo’s version of the Malaspina University-College campus campaign production will feature local stars including Kait Light and Nicole Busby, along with Malaspina University-College First Nations professor Laura Cranmer who will present "My Vagina was my Village". Mal UC students Lisa Graston and Sarah van Egmond will perform monologues as well.

The production is directed by Eliza Gardiner, and serves to raise funds for the Nanaimo Women’s Resource Centre. Further funds for the centre will be raised through the sale of an original painting by local artist Yvonne van der Kooi, who will create a painting on each evening of the show, a piece of work inspired by the actual live performances.

A silent auction will be held in the lobby during intermission; concession and info tables, and a special tribute to past Vagina Monologues performer Laura Gainey will round out the evening’s entertainment.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students/seniors; available at the Nanaimo Women's Centre on Selby St.

2007-02-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

The Vagina Monologues Returns!

Join us for two fabulous performances of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues at Malaspina University-College March 2 and 3 (Friday and Saturday). The play is funny, touching, inspiring and empowering, and proceeds will benefit the Nanaimo Women's Centre. More information will be available shortly.

2007-02-08T14:43:00.000-08:00

Journalist Sally Armstrong to speak at International Women’s Day Event

Women’s struggles and achievements in Canada and abroad are the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations at Malaspina University-College. The day’s events include two ground-breaking films, a gala dinner and silent auction, and an address by internationally-acclaimed Canadian investigative journalist Sally Armstrong.

Films include Daughters of Afghanistan, in which Armstrong exposes the struggle of women in modern Afghanistan, and Finding Dawn, in which acclaimed Métis filmmaker Christine Welsh explores the “Dark heart of Native Women's experience in Canada.”

“We are honoured to be screening these outstanding films, and very fortunate to welcome Sally Armstrong to Nanaimo,” said Jeannie Martin, chair of the International Women’s Day planning committee and past president of the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society. “These women have done a tremendous amount to expose injustice to women and to reveal the strength that women possess.”

Both films will show at 3:30pm on March 8. Daughters of Afghanistan screens in Building 356, Room 109, with Terre Flower leading a discussion after the film. Finding Dawn shows in Building 355, Room 203, with Laura Cranmer facilitating the follow-up discussion. Admission for both films is by donation.

From 3:30 to 6:30pm, a silent auction and community information tables will be set up in the Cafeteria, Bldg. 300. A gala dinner provided by Malaspina catering service will follow. The evening will conclude with Armstrong’s address Women and Girls Last.

Tickets to the gala dinner and address are $40, available from the Malaspina University-College Students’ Union Office, the Malaspina Welcome Centre, and the Nanaimo Women's Centre at 285 Selby Street.

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8. Throughout the world, thousands of events are held to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. Nanaimo’s 2007 International Women’s Day event is co-sponsored by Malaspina University-College President's Office; Malaspina Faculty Association; Malaspina’s Students’ Union, Department of Media Studies, and Human Rights Office; Canadian Federation of University Women, Nanaimo; and the Zonta Club of Nanaimo.

Malaspina University-College is located at 900 Fifth Street. For more information, contact the Nanaimo Women's Centre at 753-0633.

2006-12-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

Nanaimo Women's Centre presents Legal Seminars for Women

The Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society is offering empowerment for women through regular legal seminars provided by women lawyers. Topics include child custody and guardianship, access and supervised access, restraining orders, child and spousal maintenance and court forms and procedures. Sessions are free, and are open to any woman who needs information to navigate the family legal system.

Facilitators Bonnie MacLaughlin, Elisabeth A.L. Strain and Mindy Coles are practising family lawyers in Nanaimo. Bonnie MacLaughlin has a degree in Communications and attended law school at Dalhousie. Elisabeth Strain has a degree in Criminology and a degree from UBC School of Law. She has 12 years experience and is former Crown Counsel. Mindy Coles practises family law and solicitation work for Mont & Walker.
“Issues surrounding custody of children and financial support are difficult and stressful, especially if you are self-represented,” MacLaughlin explains. “Providing information to women who are navigating the legal system on their own is one way that the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society can help women in our community.”
The first session is on Tuesday Dec. 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, 285 Selby. All women are welcome. For more information, call 753-0633.

*The lawyers facilitating these seminars are unable to provide specific legal advice regarding individual cases.*

2006-12-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU to the Rights and Democracy Nanaimo delegation for hosting a successful and moving December 6 fundraiser for the Nanaimo Women's Centre!

We are grateful to the organizers, donors, performers, volunteers and to all of those who attended this event. Your continued support of our work in the community does not go unnoticed.

We will update you with our fundraising total in a later post. Again, many thanks.

2006-12-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER 6 EVENTS

5:30 pm

Malaspina University College Dec. 6 Memorial
Wednesday December 6 in the memorial garden in front of Building 360

6pm to 9pm

In cooperation with the MFA Status of Women Committee and the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, Remembrance and Renewal: A National Day of Action will be held in building 355 of the Malaspina University College campus.

BACKGROUND on the Montreal Massacre

On December 6, 1989, on the campus of Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique, 14 women lost their lives in a shooting now known as the Montreal Massacre.

The murdered women were:
Geneviève Bergeron, aged 21; Hélène Colgan, 23; Nathalie Croteau, 23; Barbara Daigneault, 22; Anne-Marie Edward, 21; Maud Haviernick, 29; Barbara Maria Klucznik, 31; Maryse Leclair, 23; Annie St.-Arneault, 23; Michèle Richard, 21; Maryse Laganière, 25; Anne-Marie Lemay, 22; Sonia Pelletier, 28; and Annie Turcotte, aged 21.

These women's lives were cut short simply because they were women.

The anniversary of this event has become a day of remembrance, and in 1991, the Parliament of Canada named December 6 the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

For more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89cole_Polytechnique_Massacre

http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-70-398/disasters_tragedies/montreal_massacre/

http://gendercide.org/case_montreal.html

2006-11-24T15:38:00.000-08:00

Nanaimo Women’s Centre Fundraiser December 6

On Wednesday December 6, 2006 the Rights and Democracy Network Malaspina Delegation will host the 2nd annual Nanaimo Women’s Centre fundraiser. In cooperation with the MFA Status of Women Committee and the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, Remembrance and Renewal: A National Day of Action will be held in building 355 of the Malaspina University College campus from 6-9pm.

December 6 is Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day was created to commemorate the 14 young women who lost their lives in the 1989 shooting at the l'École Polytechnique de Montréal, and to reflect and consider the phenomenon of violence against women and girls in our society.

The event will feature local band Mama’s Kitchen, Eliza Gardiner’s one-woman act “Concessions of a Wannabe Rock Star” and spoken word and drumming by Tracy Myers. Local artists will be showcased; their work will be available for purchase through silent auction. Food and beverages will also be available throughout the evening.

All proceeds will be donated to the Nanaimo Women’s Centre. Women's Centres in British Columbia lost 100 per cent of their core funding due to government cutbacks in 2004. In the last few years, the Nanaimo Women’s Centre has seen a steady increase in demand for its services. The Centre currently relies on dedicated volunteers and professional part-time staff. Nanaimo has benefited greatly from its Women’s Centre, which addresses a diverse range of issues affecting women and children in our community while providing a safe place for women to seek help. Community support enables the Nanaimo Women’s Centre to continue operating.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, Malaspina University College Student Union and the Thirsty Camel. A limited number will also be available at the door.

For additional information:

http://www.nanaimowomen.com/
Rightsanddemocracy_nanaimo@hotmail.com
http://www.rightsdemocracy.net/en/reseau/qui_sommes_nous.htm http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/dec6/index_e.html

2006-11-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

Building Bridges Graduation!

Congratulations to our second group of Building Bridges Graduates! We are so proud of this program, and of the women who have completed it to date. This group received their certificates on November 16, 2006.

L-R (standing): Centre Coordinator Charlene Riches, Carol Sutherland, Chris Rice, Maggie Corbett, and Mary Anne Labbe.
L-R seated: Bernice Johnson, Building Bridges facilitator Lesley Clarke.

2006-10-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

Meet Your New Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society Board of Directors

Board elections happened at our Annual General Meeting in September 2006 and we are pleased to update you on our new board makeup. First, though, we would like to send out our thanks to Barbara Ann Rivers, who has just completed a year on the Board as our director in charge of membership. Barbara Ann has decided to step down from the Board and we thank her for her hard work.

Jeannie Martin (president), Arlene Garman (vice-president), and Adrienne Mercer (public relations) were elected to two-year terms in 2005, and all three women remain on the Board. Sandra Steilo (secretary), and Nicole Shaw were elected for two-year terms at the AGM. Sandra has served on the Board since late 2005, when they were appointed to fill vacancies left open when former Board members Deborah Wood and Anna Atkinson stepped down. Nicole, a former Board member and publisher of Synergy Magazine, has become chair of our membership committee.

We have three prospective Board members: Eliza Gardiner, Jen Kirk, and Samantha Letourneau—all of these women have done great work in support of the Women’s Centre, and we feel lucky that they wish to get more involved!

Eliza directed the Vagina Monologues (an annual fundraiser that Malaspina University-College stages for the Women’s Centre) two years ago and was involved as a cast member last year. She will be directing the production again in 2007. Jen is past president of Rights and Democracy Nanaimo, a non-partisan organization that encourages and supports the universal values of human rights and the promotion of democratic institutions and practices around the world. Last year Jen and Samantha inspired Rights and Democracy Nanaimo to host a wonderfully successful December 6 fundraiser for the Women’s Centre—and they were instrumental in the event’s success.

Samantha, host of a weekly program on CHLY-FM, is completing her Global Studies Degree at Malaspina. She has recently returned from doing a CIDA-sponsored internship in Belize. You might be interested in checking out her Travelblog at http://www.manlymedia.com/travelblog/

Thank you so much to Eliza, Jen, and Samantha for your interest in the Women’s Centre and the ongoing work of our Board.

2006-10-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

A Canadian Press Story on Harper's Cuts

My friend Angie just sent me this story with the message "This makes my heart hurt."
Mine too.

By Jennifer Ditchburn

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal Conservative government says it will nolongerfund women's groups that do advocacy, lobbying or general research, leaving some to wonder what's left. The drastic change to the mandate and operation of Status of WomenCanada also drops the word "equality" when listing the agency's goals.

Previous objectives such as helping women's organizations participate in the public policy process and increasing the public's understanding of women's equality issues have been eliminated from government literature. Organizations that receive funding from the Trudeau-era agency were stunned.

"When you look at this Conservative government's policy it's like, 'Be good girls, be quiet.' It's shocking really," said Monica Lysack of the ChildCare Advocacy Association of Canada. Groups initially thought the agency's core program had escaped the axeduring a government-wide spending review announced last week, when only the administrative side of Status of Women Canada was cut. But they were told this week by Status of Women Minister Bev Oda that they would no longer be able to receive funding for projects that involved advocacy work, lobbying of the government or general research, as part of new terms and conditions for grants.

Oda was not available for comment Wednesday. But last week she made reference to the changes in the Commons. "The new terms and conditions are consistent with our commitment toaccountability and value for money," Oda said. "Canadian women know the value of a dollar. They know what good use of hard earned money means." The changes are consistent with program cuts the government made to policy branches and advisory committees in several departments.

Government watchers say it's indicative of a move away from "government-funded lobbying," in favour of results-oriented projects. Alia Hogben, executive director of the Canadian Council of the Muslim Women, argues without the funding the government provided her group, it would never have successfully struck down the use of Muslim shariah law in Ontario family court cases.

"That makes it very difficult, because if you don't lobby and you don'tadvocate, you're not going to make systemic changes," said Hogben. "A majority of us are new immigrants, we don't know all the systems, we have to struggle with adaptation . . . to say we're going to get money, or any large sums of money to do this work is just not reasonable."

The changes were welcomed by REAL Women Canada, a socially conservative group that has been advocating the total elimination of the federal agency, which it considers irrelevant to average Canadian women. "If a group can't support itself and its lobbying activities across the country, then it just isn't a grassroots organization and shouldn't be funded by the taxpayer," said vice-president Gwendolyn Landolt. "You have fundraisers and you earn money, you stand on your own two feet, you don't look for government handouts."

Also in the new terms and conditions for grants is a general statement of objectives for the women's program. The last document, published in 1993, said the program supported organizations that sought to "advance equality for women by addressing women's economic, social, political and legal situation." It also had a list of four other key objectives that included women's involvement in the decision-making or public policy process. The new, shorter stated objective is to "facilitate women's participation in Canadian society by addressing their economic, social and cultural situation through Canadian organizations."

Michele Asselin, president of la Federation des femmes du Quebec - the largest women's organization in the province - said Canadians expect their government do what's necessary to uphold Charter equality rights, and sometimes that includes funding outside groups to raise issues. "It's fundamental to Canadian democracy because all groups and lobbyists aren't all equal. There has to be financing that supports independent groups that can question and analyze and give different perspectives to government," said Asselin. "That's part of a democratic society to finance groups that defend rights."

2006-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Nanaimo Women's Centre Gets a House of Commons Mention!

On September 28 in the House of Commons Beaches-East York MP Maria Minna brought forth this motion:

Hon. Maria Minna (Beaches—East York, Lib.)
moved:

That, in the opinion of the House, the government fails to recognize the many roles of women in Canadian society and the importance of providing all Canadian women with equal opportunity; and the House objects to the government’s partisan and discriminatory cuts in federal support for women’s programs and services.

Our MP Jean Crowder supported this motion—and mentioned the Nanaimo Women’s Centre at the end of her speech. The Hansard record is included below. We are so pleased that our voice has been recognized in this debate of great national importance. Thank you to Jean Crowder and her staff.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Winnipeg North.
I rise in support of the motion, but it is a sad comment that we even need to be debating it. I will give the House a little context.
I had the privilege of serving on the very first parliamentary committee on the status of women. I want to acknowledge the very good work done by the member for Winnipeg North and the member for Vancouver East in making sure that committee became part of the parliamentary standing committees. It was the very first committee on the status of women. It was something for which the NDP had fought long and hard over a number of years. We were very excited about having that committee in place to tackle the very critical issues that were coming before women.
Let us have a little context. Back on January 18, 2006 while campaigning for the job of prime minister, the current Prime Minister signed a pledge which read:

Yes, I'm ready to support women's human rights and I agree that Canada has more to do to meet its international obligations to women's equality. If elected, I will take concrete and immediate measures, as recommended by the United Nations, to ensure that Canada fully upholds its commitment to women in Canada.
I wonder how that commitment to women's equality translates into a $5 million cut to the status of women and how it translates into cuts to programs like court challenges.
On the other hand we have the Liberals. I will talk a fair bit about the very sorry Liberal record. Although I applaud the member for bringing this important motion forward, I question why in the 13 years the Liberals were in government they failed to address the crisis in women's communities from coast to coast to coast.
In Canada 20% of women live in poverty. Senior women face double the poverty rates of men. Shelters and crisis lines have closed from coast to coast to coast. Although some of those are provincial responsibilities, there were cuts in funding that came from the federal government to the provincial governments to fund these critical programs.
Unless people think we escaped international notice, CEDAW, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, in 2003 cited numerous issues that the federal Liberals of the day had failed to address: women's shelters, poverty, aboriginal women not having access to all kinds of services. A very critical piece that the parliamentary committee on the status of women addressed was gender based analysis, how the Liberal government of the day had failed to consider the impact on women of programs and services across the board. We could cite any number of programs and services where the impact on women was not even considered, despite the fact that somebody may have checked a box that said they had looked at how it might impact on women.
One program in particular was the employment insurance program. When the parliamentary committee on the status of women looked at the impact on women on employment insurance, it found that women were disproportionately disallowed when trying to make claims. It found that the number of women who were eligible for maternity benefits was falling.
We had a government that failed to consider the needs of over half the population in this country.
In addition, another body, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, in May 2006 issued a report that talked about making some recommendations around extending the court challenges program to permit funding of challenges with respect to provincial and territorial legislation and policies, provide civil legal aid with regard to economic, social and cultural rights, take into consideration the right of women to work and the need for parents to balance work and family life by supporting care choices through adequate child care services.
We have a current Conservative government that has ripped up the court challenges program and destroyed the child care initiatives that had been signed with provincial governments. However, the Liberal government, when it had the opportunity, failed to enshrine in legislation a national child care act and failed to recognize the recommendations around legal aid that made sure that women and their children had access to legal aid.
During the very good work that the first parliamentary committee on the status of women did, it heard from women from across Canada. There were times when committee members were in tears when they heard the tragedy of the lack of funding for women's organizations and for the women on whom this impacted.
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One of the things that came through loudly and clearly in hearing from these women's organizations was the issue of funding. I am going to quote for members from the first report the committee put together:

The Committee has heard that the women's movement has played an important role in keeping equality issues on the public agenda, but that these organizations have been weakened over the past decade as a result of decreased funding as well as a shift away from core/program funding toward project-specific funding.
That was under the Liberal government. Now what we see is the Conservatives further eroding the ability of women's organizations, equality-seeking organizations, to adequately bring forward the needs of women in this country.
Again, I have a quote from a representative of the YWCA of Canada. She said:

The last fifteen years...have seen a marked decline in the visibility of equity issues on the Canadian social agenda. This decline is directly correlated to the significant funding cuts experienced by women's groups in the early 1990s.
As a result of hearing from women across the country, the committee had a unanimous report that went before the government, calling for a 25% increase in core funding to women's organizations. It called for 25% and what the committee recognized was that this amount of money was actually inadequate, but we thought that was a good first step toward ensuring that women's voices were at the table, that women's needs were met across this country, and that women actually had an opportunity to step into their full capacity and be full, active, participating members in our country.
When the committee was looking at its position, we recognized that with a total female population of close to 16 million, the funding disbursed by the women's programs to groups working toward gender equality is less than $1 per girl and woman. The committee thought that we actually needed $2 per girl and woman in this country, but we took a more reasonable step at that time by recommending only a 25% increase in core funding. That was not put in place by the Liberal government of the day. Now we have the Conservatives further eroding our ability to have women join their rightful place in this country.
In May 2005, the parliamentary Standing Committee on the Status of Women tabled another report, “Funding Through the Women's Program: Women's Groups Speak Out”. I will read three parts from this report for members. The first states:

Many women's organizations today are financially fragile because they depend on a web of unpredictable, short-term targeted project funding.
That is from a brief submitted by the Child Care Coalition of Manitoba.
The brief submitted by the Women's Economic Equality Society states:

Women’s organizations have a wealth of knowledge about project-based as well as core operational funding. They should be involved in the design of a new model.
The brief from Danielle Hébert, general coordinator, Fédération des Femmes du Québec, on May 10, 2005, states:

What is needed is mixed funding that better reflects the actual circumstances in which these groups work, by making sure they have the infrastructures they need to carry out their projects.
One of the things we have learned both internationally and domestically is that if we want to make sure that we have successful, effective programs and services, and successful, effective laws that address the needs of the people they are going have an impact on, we need to have the people at the table.
We had a Liberal government that failed to do this. Now we have a Conservative government that has just cut that $5 million with no consultation and no debate.
I want to read a statement from the Women's Centre in my riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan. These women are pleading for the Conservative government not to ignore their needs. This is their statement:

As a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the political, social and economic equality of women, the Nanaimo Women's Resources Society opposes the [Conservative] government cuts. In particular we are concerned with the $5 million in administrative reductions to Status of Women Canada, and the elimination of the Court Challenges program.

It is disappointing to see federal support for women diminished, particularly after the severe cuts to women's centres throughout British Columbia. Status of Women Canada is the federal body responsible for promoting gender equality in Canada.

To wrap up, I would urge each and every member in the House to support this opposition motion before the House to ensure that women can achieve all they are able to achieve in this country, through having access to programs and services and through having access to the things that make them able to participate in this society in a full and equal way.

2006-09-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

WE OPPOSE THE HARPER GOVERNMENT'S CUTS!!!

As a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the political, social and economic equality of women, the Nanaimo Women's Resources Society opposes the Harper government cuts. In particular we are concerned with the $5 million in administrative reductions to Status of Women Canada, and the elimination of the Court Challenges program.

It is disappointing to see federal support for women diminished, particularly after the severe cuts to women's centres throughout British Columbia. Status of Women Canada is the federal body responsible for promoting gender equality in Canada. To quote the government's own website, this federal department supports " the full participation of women in the economic, social, cultural and political life of the country."

Status of Women Canada is particularly concerned with eliminating systemic violence against women and children, and advancing women's human rights. This is important work, and it a shame to see this department diminished to such an extent. Cuts to administration can be as devastating as direct cuts to services, and the Nanaimo Women's Centre has had direct experience with this.

Stephen Harper is clearly not interested in equality—he is willing to turn back the clock for Canadian women in order to benefit a precious few.

The elimination of the Court Challenges program is a tremendous loss as well. This twelve-year-old national non-profit organization provided financial assistance for important court cases that advance language and equality rights guaranteed under Canada's Constitution. It is important that these court challenges are made—because sometimes laws do discriminate even if they are meant to treat everyone equally.

Canadians are protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and should be able to take the government to court without financial consequence if Charter rights are not being upheld.

2006-08-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS to the graduates of our new Building Bridges program! This program is funded by the City of Nanaimo through a $9000 Social Development Grant. The program helps women take the first steps toward employment and/or educational programs. Here, our very first graduates celebrate their achievements with Centre staff and with Board President Jeannie Martin.

2006-08-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all--the Nanaimo Women's Centre has a brand new home at 285 Selby Street! Please come and visit us anytime! Our Annual General Meeting is at 6:30 pm on Monday, September 11 at the Centre. Members and the general public are welcome.

2006-03-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

Restore Funding for Legal Aid!

Since the Liberal government took power in 2001, British Columbians have suffered deep cuts to legal aid services. In November, 2005, Attorney General Wally Oppal told Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog that legal aid is accessible through a number of Nanaimo community organizations, including the Nanaimo Women’s Centre. This is the response that Board president Jeannie Martin recently sent to the Attorney General.

Dear Minister:

Re: Estimates: Ministry of Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism

I am writing on behalf of the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society, which operates the Nanaimo Women’s Centre. On November 2, 2005, you appeared before the Legislative Assembly’s Committee of Supply to answer questions regarding the budget estimates for your ministry. In response to questions regarding the provision of legal aid in our community, you listed the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society as one of the organizations that has replaced the services provided by the Legal Services Society prior to the 2002 budget cuts.

The Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society advocates for the political, social and economic equality of women, and if women need help navigating the legal system, we do try to find them the answers they need. That said, we have not been able to obtain project funding for our proposed Women’s Legal Services program, and even if we did have the funding for this program, it would not come close to replacing the assistance once offered to residents of this community.

As noted in the Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia’s recent study of poverty law in British Columbia, provincial government cuts to legal aid services mean that poverty law assistance in B.C. is now “scarce, fragmented and dramatically underfunded.” This is particularly true in Nanaimo, where our community and poverty law centre has had to close.

It is frustrating to read that you believe the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society has managed to mend the social safety net that your government unravelled in 2002. Our Society is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. Most of our Directors already work full-time within the community, or are volunteering on top of a schedule that also includes full-time studies and part-time work. When the provincial government cut our core funding, we were forced to eliminate the position of executive director, so the Board of Directors has taken on her duties.

We employ a part-time program coordinator who is the front-line support for women in need, and a part-time centre coordinator who focuses on administration. We are open just 15 hours per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) and we see an average of 400 women per month. During this time our staff and volunteers offer one-on-one support, group counselling sessions, a free clothing exchange, computer and telephone access and assistance with accessing a variety of community services. We supply women in need with everything from food to bus tickets to toiletries to telephone access. Obviously, we are not also able to offer comprehensive and wide-reaching legal assistance to our community during this time.

As our MLA Leonard Krog advised you on November 2, a recent study by the West Coast Legal Education Action Fund showed that poverty law services and family legal aid are accessed primarily by women. At the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society, we definitely feel the devastating impact of the cuts to these services.

Nanaimo has one of the highest rates of single-women parenthood and child poverty in British Columbia. Nanaimo female single-parent families earn $4500 less per year than the B.C. average. Compared with other communities in B.C., Nanaimo has the second highest provincial rate of dependent elderly women. Between 1997 and 2002, the Nanaimo area saw a 130 per cent increase in family violence. Please understand that these are not mere statistics. These are the people who regularly walk through our doors and seek help from our front-line staff.

The Nanaimo Women’s Centre fills an important need in our community. If it did not, our staff, Board members, volunteers and donors would not have struggled for so long to keep its doors open. Prior to the cuts to core funding, we ran the Nanaimo Women’s Centre on $80,000 per year. The one-two-punch of losing core funding and becoming ineligible for direct access funds left us with $20,000 (mostly from memberships, donations and small local grants) to cover wages, rent, utilities and other expenses. We are working on fundraising projects every spare second so that we can continue to operate.

As mentioned, we have so far been unsuccessful in obtaining project funding for our proposed Women’s Legal Services program. We are by no means replacing legal aid in this community. We are helping women on a case by case basis, and it is not easy. It is imperative to restore meaningful access to poverty law services in our community, and throughout British Columbia. Members of our Board would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this situation further.

Yours truly,
Jeannie Martin, President
Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society

2006-02-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

THANKS to everyone who came out and supported the Vagina Monologues! Through community support, we raised $7000 in donations to the Women's Centre! Many, many, many thanks to Malaspina University-College, the cast and crew, and absolutely everyone who made this happen!

2006-01-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Nanaimo Women Unite to Help Stop the Violence
Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues returns to Malaspina University-College

V-DAY, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls returns to Nanaimo on Feb. 10 and 11, with two productions of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues at the Malaspina University-College theatre.

Twelve women will present the Monologues in a café-style format that celebrates the collective voices of women through individual stories. Performers include city councillor Diane Brennan, Malaspina Women’s Studies department chair Kathryn Barnwell and Volunteer Nanaimo executive director Marjorie Driscoll. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, which lost its core funding to provincial government cuts in the spring of 2004.

“This college campaign has been effective in raising awareness about violence against women, and the need to support women’s shelters, women’s centres and transition houses,” says Jeannie Martin, president of the Nanaimo Women’s Centre. “The organizers and performers who are putting this event together are doing a tremendous service for women in the Nanaimo area.”

V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. Through V-Day campaigns, local volunteers and college students produce annual benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues to raise awareness and funds for anti-violence groups within their own communities. The V in V-Day stands for victory, valentine and vagina.

The Malaspina performance joins the rest of this year’s V-Day campaigns in raising awareness about the plight of comfort women, young females of various ethnic and national backgrounds who were forced to offer sexual services to the Japanese troops during the Asia/Pacific Wars between 1932 and 1945. The aging survivors are dying off without redress from the Japanese government, which still denies legal responsibility. V-Day is working with groups in Asia to plan a major V-Day event in Seoul during summer 2006 to bring maximum attention to this issue. V-Day is also working to raise awareness of human trafficking as we recognize the relationship between the story of the ‘comfort women’ and the system of modern day human trafficking.

The Vagina Monologues begins at 7:30pm Feb. 10 and 11 at the Malaspina University-College Theatre, located in building 310. Tickets are $12, available at Lobelia’s Lair (753-5440) and the Nanaimo Women’s Centre (753-0633). The Women’s Centre is located at 10 Victoria Crescent and is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10am to 3pm.

2006-01-06T16:11:00.000-08:00

Malaspina University College and the Nanaimo Women’s Centre are presenting the Vagina Monologues on February 10 and 11 at the Malaspina theatre. Tickets are $12 and the show starts at 7:30pm. More details will follow. In the meantime, here is some information about this year’s V-Day/Vagina Monologues campaign against violence against women.

At this time over 860 colleges and communities are confirmed to present V-Day 2006 benefit productions of the Vagina Monologues in 45 countries from February – March. Each community typically stages two-three nights in a row, due to popular demand and totaling 2000 fundraisers in all. Organizers on 547 college campuses have registered, the most in V-Day’s history. To date, V-Day event locations include Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mozambique, Saipan, Suriname, Tanzania, Wales and almost every state in the United States.

V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls founded by Vagina Monologues playwright Eve Ensler, has announced Vagina Warriors: The New Revolution as the theme for the movement’s 2006 campaigns and grassroots events. From Dar es Salaam to Charlotte, from Tokyo to Los Angeles, V-Day will expand on the successful 2005 season, during which over 2500 V-Day benefit events were presented by volunteer activists around the world, educating millions of people about the issue of violence against women and girls, raising nearly $4 million and benefiting over 1000 anti-violence groups.

V-Day’s 2006 theme “Vagina Warriors: The New Revolution” celebrates new activists and leaders who are working to end violence against women in their communities. Vagina Warriors are the women and men who have often experienced violence personally or witnessed it within their communities and dedicated themselves toward ending such violence through effective, grassroots means. V-Day 2005 productions around the world from Ethiopia to China; Indiana to India; Croatia to Finland selected and honoured Vagina Warriors in their communities generating attention, newspaper articles, and raising funds to support their work.

2006 Spotlight: Justice to ‘Comfort Women’ Each year V-Day draws attention to a particular group of women who are experiencing violence, with the goal of raising awareness and funds to put a worldwide media spotlight on this area and to raise funds to aid groups who are addressing it. On the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II, V-Day joins women and men around the world in calling for justice to ‘Comfort Women’ survivors. The euphemism ‘comfort women’ was coined by imperial Japan to refer to young females of various ethnic and national backgrounds who were forced to offer sexual services to the Japanese troops during the Asia/Pacific Wars between 1932 and 1945. Some were minors; others were deceptively recruited by middlemen; still more were detained and forcibly abducted. Estimates of the number of ‘comfort women’ range between 50,000 to 200,000.

In the early 1990s, Korean victims of Japan’s military sexual slavery broke their silence and came forward nearly a half century after WWII, followed by other survivors in China, Taiwan, North Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Timor L’Este. Now the aging survivors are dying off one by one without redress from the Japanese government, which still denies legal responsibility. The V-Day 2006 Spotlight joins the ‘comfort women’ survivors and women’s groups from East and Southeast Asia in calling for justice and reparations for the unanswered war crimes.

2005-12-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Thank you to everyone who has helped us keep our doors open. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated. We look forward to 2006.

2005-12-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

We haven't collected all of our silent auction bids from the December 6 fundraiser yet, but once we do it looks like we'll have raised about $3700 for the Women's Centre. The event was a great success and we are so grateful to Rights and Democracy Nanaimo Delegation for organizing it. Thank you to everyone who attended and showed support for the Centre!

A special thanks for all of the media promotion we recieved from CHLY, Shaw TV, the Navigator, the Nanaimo Bulletin, the Nanaimo Daily News, the Harbour City Star and the Parksville Qualicum Beach News (and those are just the ones we know about)! Thanks also to MP Jean Crowder and MLA Leonard Krog for attending, we appreciate your continued support.

2005-11-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

Remembrance and Renewal—A National Day of Action

December 6 Fundraiser to Support Nanaimo Women’s Centre

Sixteen years ago on the campus of Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique, 14 women lost their lives in a shooting now known as the Montreal Massacre. The terror of this incident intensified with the knowledge that these women were murdered simply because they were women. Since December 6, 1989, the anniversary of this event has become a day of remembrance, and in 1991, the Parliament of Canada named December 6 the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

This December 6, Rights and Democracy Nanaimo Delegation is hosting Remembrance and Renewal: A National Day of Action in memory of these 14 women and in support of the Nanaimo Women’s Centre. The event will take place at Malaspina University-College at 7pm, in the lounge located in building 355. If you are able to, it would be wonderful if you could attend.

The evening will feature a wine-tasting and social, with musical performances by Joan Wallace and Barry Hall, Merisa Donoghue and The Dirty Flannel Dawg with Special Guest Emily Celeste. There will be a silent auction of works by artists including Sheila Norgate, Eva Manly and Patrick Amos, as well as holiday-inspired gift items from Nanaimo businesses. All funds raised will be donated to the Nanaimo Women’s Centre, which lost its core funding in the spring of 2004 due to Provincial government cutbacks.

Tickets are $10 and can be bought in advance from Lifestyles Health and Fitness Center, Catwalk, Global Village and the Nanaimo Women’s Centre at 10A Victoria Crescent. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Many thanks for your ongoing support of the Nanaimo Women’s Centre!

2005-11-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

Five ways you can help the Nanaimo Women's Centre

1. Take out a membership--our strength comes from our members and volunteers.
2. Consider becoming a Friend of the Women's Centre by making monthly donations.
3. Go through your closet and bring us any gently-used clothing you are not wearing--we operate a free clothing exchange.
4. Make a donation of soap, shampoo samples, feminine hygeine products, warm blankets or bus tickets. We also accept non-perishable food items. (Juice boxes are just great!)
5. Call or write to your MLA and MP and stress that the Nanaimo Women's Centre is an important part of this community. Tell your MLA you would like to see Provincial funding restored to B.C. Women's Centres.

We appreciate your help and support! Call us at 753-0633 or drop by the Centre at 10A Victoria Crescent in downtown Nanaimo (at the top of the China Steps). We are open from 10am to 3pm, Tuesday through Thursday.

Many Thanks!

2005-11-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

This just in! Stay tuned for more information!

On December 6, 1989, 14 women were gunned down at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. On Tuesday December 6, please join the Nanaimo Women’s Centre and the Rights and Democracy Club at Malaspina University-College as we commemorate this tragic event, by celebrating the lives and accomplishments of women.

Our event, Remembrance and Renewal, will be held at Malaspina University-College on the evening of December 6 (time TBA). We will have a social in the lounge with wine and beer tasting, food (sushi from Acme, etc.), and art show and silent auction and a women's band from Victoria. Tickets will cost $10 ($8 for low-income) and will include admission plus one drink and one plate of food.

More information to come—please stay tuned!

The Nanaimo Women’s Centre thanks the Rights and Democracy Club for their hard work, and for their understanding of the importance of the December 6 anniversary.

2005-11-09T16:17:00.000-08:00

For anyone who is interested in why we post under the name Rosie, here is some background. This release is from May, 2005, during the run-up to the B.C. provincial election. Resist, Revolt, Rebel, RENEW!

Thanks,
Nanaimo Women's Centre Rosies

We Can Do It!
Rosie the Riveters Respond to Women’s Centre Cuts

NANAIMO—Members and supporters of the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society hosted a Rosie the Riveter dress-up demonstration before the All-Candidates’ Forum on Tuesday May 3.
In April, 2004, the Provincial Liberals clawed back $47,000 in core funding from each of B.C.’s Women’s Centres. Faced with a funding crisis, the Nanaimo Women’s Centre may soon be forced to close its doors.
“We have lost the voice of women’s advocacy at the provincial level with the elimination of the Ministry of Women’s Equality, and at the local level with these cuts,” says Jeannie Martin, president of the Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society Board of Directors. “Women’s Centres have been cut off at the knees. This demonstration is a way to raise community awareness, and to remind our provincial election candidates that this is an issue the government must take seriously.”
Rosies met outside the Port Theatre at 5:45, and demonstrated until the All-Candidates’ Forum began at 6:30 pm.
Rosie the Riveter became an icon during the Second World War, when American women took over the factories while men were at the front. Her first mention was in a song written by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb in 1942. Since the Campbell Liberals took power, Rosie’s confident expression and raised fist has caught on as an image of strength in the face of deep cuts to social programs.
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To make a donation to the Nanaimo Women’s Centre or to volunteer, please call 753-0633, 10am to 3pm Tuesday-Thursday. Thank you!!!

2005-11-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

With the civic election approaching (November 19) we at the Nanaimo Women's Centre have put together a list of questions we would like candidates to think about. If you are an election candidate, or if you are a resident planning on attending this week's candidates forum, please keep the following questions in mind. We need representatives who understand the importance of a women's centre in our community! Many thanks.

Don't forget to vote on November 19--women didn't win the vote easily, after all. We have the power to effect change in our community, so let's get out there and use it!

Questions for election candidates

What sort of work does the Nanaimo Women's Centre do?

How many women in Nanaimo and the Regional District use the Women’s Centre?

Why do women need a safe space to come for help?

Why do you feel a Women’s Centre is necessary in our community—or why not?

In terms of political, economic and social equality, what barriers do you see women facing that are not barriers for men?

As a Nanaimo city councillor, what will you do to encourage provincial and federal representatives to re-instate funding for Women’s Centres?

2005-11-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the brand-new Nanaimo Women's Centre blog!

The Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society has a 25-year history of providing services to women in our community. Since we became a registered non-profit society in 1981, our staff and volunteers have always been available to help women in crisis. The Women’s Centre is located centrally in the downtown south side of Nanaimo, and we assist 300 to 400 clients per month, during the 60 hours we can afford to have our doors open. (Just 15 hours per week.)

We have lost our core funding, and with it our Executive Director. We’ve been forced to downsize our Centre, and we are struggling to make the rent so that we can continue to operate.
Government cuts to women’s programs in British Columbia have inordinately affected Aboriginal women, women of colour, immigrants, refugees, single mothers, women with disabilities, the poor and the elderly (Losing Ground: The Effects of Government Cutbacks on Women in British Columbia, 2001-2005). The effects on women in Nanaimo have been devastating, and demand for the referral, resource, counseling and legal services offered through the Nanaimo Women’s Centre continues to increase.

Nanaimo has one of the highest rates of single-women parenthood and child poverty in British Columbia. The rates of teen pregnancy, spousal assault, and illicit drug use and death are higher in Nanaimo than the B.C. average. Nanaimo female single-parent families earn $4500 less per year than the B.C. average. Compared with other communities in B.C., Nanaimo has the second highest rate of dependent elderly women. Between 1997 and 2002, the Nanaimo area saw a 130 per cent increase in family violence and more recently, a sharp decline in accessible legal services.

At our drop-in centre, women can access counseling, free legal clinics and workshops, free phone, computer, photocopier and fax services, support groups (such as our 16 Steps Recovery/Discovery for substance addiction issues and 16 Steps to Empowerment for eating disorders issues), referrals, a free clothing exchange, parenting support, emergency supplies such as soap, diapers and bus tickets and more.

Our goal is to keep our drop-in open as a first-line-of-action resource for women in our community. We are also seeking project funding so that we can begin to operate a much-needed Women’s Legal Services Program. This would provide women with practical legal assistance including peer counseling, legal education workshops and group sessions, individual assistance with court documentation and other educational workshops.

Civic elections are coming up on November 19. We wish all candidates luck, and we ask you all to remember that the Nanaimo Women's Centre needs your support!