News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

March 8, 2018

Province Recognizes International Women's Day

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Manitoba Women's Advisory Council Releases Report on Status of Women in Manitoba: Minister

The provincial government is recognizing International Women’s Day with the release of a report on the status of women in Manitoba, Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for status of women, announced today.  The provincially appointed Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council (MWAC) released the publication during a luncheon at the Fort Garry Hotel.

“The Status of Women in Manitoba report highlights our progress in women’s equality and identifies opportunities for improvement,” said Squires.  “I commend the council for its vision in developing this document, and I hope it will help raise awareness and spur action in all sectors of society.” 

The minister noted the report examines how women are faring in four areas that reflect global priorities for women’s equality:  education, employment, health and safety.  The report incorporates perspectives of northern, rural and Indigenous women of all ages, as well as women who are members of visible minority groups and women living with disabilities. 

The report found Manitoba women are:

  • more likely to hold a high school diploma than Manitoba men;
  • less likely to be employed full-time and more likely to be employed part-time than men in Manitoba;
  • earning a lower median income than men in Manitoba;
  • under-represented in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) sectors and significantly under-represented across all trade occupations in Manitoba; and
  • under-represented in leadership roles as elected officials, within senior rankings of law enforcement, the military and private sector.

“The Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council is committed to voicing women’s concerns to government and the community through policy research, information services and community liaison,” said council chairperson Jeannette Montufar.  “We hope this publication will aid the continuing discussion and evaluation of the changing roles and social characteristics of women in Manitoba and assist with the development of policies that improve the status of women in our province.”

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.  The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

During a lunch hosted by MWAC, the minister announced the recipients of the Nellie McClung Trailblazer Scholarship for women and girls.  Five awards of $1,000 were granted to Grade 12 students who have demonstrated an aptitude in an area of study that could lead to further education or careers in STEM fields and business or under-represented trades:

  • Jazmin Boisclair,
  • Amy Fernando,
  • Yina Her,
  • Simran Saggi, and
  • Kendra Simpson.

Five awards of $1,750 were presented to women in their first year of study in those areas:

  • Larissa Fisette,
  • Su Jin Kim,
  • Brittany Nickel,
  • Marianna Pozdirca, and
  • Abby Scaletta.

“The Manitoba government is committed to supporting women to attain higher education and leadership positions, and I’m pleased to announce these scholarship recipients on International Women’s Day,” said Squires.  “Advancing women in these under-represented areas is an important part of supporting the economic prosperity of women and families.”

The minister also announced that Verna Klippenstein Heinrichs, Margaret Roscelli, Maggie Masi and Jennifer Flett have been re-appointed to the Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council for second terms.

The report on the Status of Women in Manitoba is available online at:
www.gov.mb.ca/msw/index.html.

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