January 23, 2017
Province Proclaims Third Week in January Women's Equality Week
The Manitoba government is promoting gender equality by proclaiming the third week in January Women’s Equality Week, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for the status of women, announced today.
“Although women have made tremendous strides over the last 100 years, we still have fewer opportunities than men to benefit from economic development and we participate in the labour force at lower rates,” said Squires. “For that to change, we need to change the conversation. We want young women to enter elected office, run corporations and sit in boardrooms. Whether it’s in sport, the arts, science or community development, we want young women to strive for their personal best. That’s what Women’s Equality Week is all about.”
The week kicks off today with Empowering Women in Leadership, a panel discussion with Winnipeg Free Press editor and University of Winnipeg associate professor Dr. Shannon Sampert, James Teitsma, member of the legislative assembly (MLA) for Radisson, and business developer Jodi Moskal. The event picks up on the theme of the Lift Her Up campaign, which calls on Canadians to stand up against bullying and sexist or violent language towards women. The campaign was launched to counter the “lock her up” chant that was directed at Alberta Premier Rachel Notley at a rally at the Alberta legislative building last December, Squires noted. Manitobans are encouraged to follow the conversation at #LiftherUpMB.
On Tuesday, the public is invited to join Speaker Myrna Driedger and the Equal Voice Manitoba organization to mark 100 years of women’s suffrage at the Legislative Building. Questions from the audience will be encouraged at this free panel discussion featuring Squires, Nahanni Fontaine, MLA for St. John’s, and Cindy Lamoureux, MLA for Burrows. Other speakers include former members of Parliament Anita Neville, Dorothy Dobbie and Judy Wasylycia-Leis. More information is available at www.daughtersofthevote.ca or manitoba@equalvoice.ca.
The minister also announced the province will begin developing an online gender and diversity analysis learning resource for government workers, which will assist in creating any future laws, policies and programs to ensure that gender equity is considered. The tools will be launched in partnership with the Civil Service Commission and will be available to all Manitoba government employees.
In addition, the minister will host roundtable discussions on gender equality in Gimli and Brandon on Friday and Saturday, in partnership with the local women’s resource centres. For more information or to register for either event, contact msw@gov.mb.ca or 1-800-263-0234 (toll-free). Both events will be open to the media.
“In recognition of Women’s Equality Week, I encourage Manitobans to think about a female colleague, a friend, a sister, daughter or niece and commit to lifting her up,” said Squires. “Only by supporting one another can we all succeed.”
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