Government of Canada Takes Action to End Violence against Women and Girls on University and College Campuses

EDMONTON, Nov. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced projects across Canada that engage young people in addressing violence against women on university and college campuses. Parliamentarians throughout Canada joined the Minister in announcing local projects.

"Our Government is taking action to address violence against women on university and college campuses across Canada." said Minister Ambrose. "We are proud to support projects that will help make university and college communities safer for everyone."

The Government of Canada is providing 21 organizations with close to $4 million to carry out projects that address a wide range of issues related to violence against female students, such as sexual assault and harassment. Organizations will work with college and university campus communities to carry out their projects.

Minister Ambrose made the national announcement at Grant MacEwan University, where she highlighted two regional projects.

• The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) received funding for its project involving Grant MacEwan University, which will focus on raising awareness and training for students.
• The University of Alberta Students' Union received funding for its project to develop and implement a targeted, cohesive campus community plan to address gender-based violence on campus, based on a needs assessment and community audit.

"The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) is pleased to work with MacEwan University to address gender-based violence on campus, creating University Students Offering Leadership for Violence Elimination (U-SOLVE)," said Ms. Karen Smith, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. "U-SOLVE will empower students to identify priorities and strategies, and develop and implement a campus community plan, promoting a safer campus."

"MacEwan University is pleased to partner with the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) in creating of U-SOLVE (University Students Offering Leadership for Violence Elimination)," said Ms. Cathryn Heslop, Vice-President, Student Services, MacEwan University. "U-SOLVE is a campus-based initiative, engaging and empowering students to address gender-based violence."

"Through this project, we will improve on our existing work to increase education and awareness on how gender-based violence affects students at the University of Alberta, and how we can prevent it," said Mr. Colten Yamagishi, President, University of Alberta Students' Union. "The Students' Union is doing its part to create a safer and more welcoming campus. We hope to develop related projects, including policy changes, educational workshops on violence prevention and educational support groups."

"As part of a university committed to student safety and successful learning, the University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre is pleased to work with the Student Union on their Gender-Based Violence Prevention Project," said Ms. Leanne Wruck, Team Leader, University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre. "Gender-based violence and sexual assault are a pervasive problems and public health issues. By challenging attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate gender-based violence, we will create a safer environment for all."

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting projects that yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada while strengthening families, communities and the country. Through Status of Women Canada, the government's support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, from $10.8 million to close to $19 million, its highest level ever. Since 2007, more than $54 million in federal funding has been approved for projects that seek to address violence against women and girls.

The Government of Canada is acting on its commitment to end violence against women and girls in communities across Canada. Our Safe Streets and Communities Act is better protecting children and youth from sexual predators. We have also eliminated the option of house arrest for those who have committed serious crimes, including sexual assault, and we no longer consider pardons for such offences. In addition, we have introduced tougher sentences for child sexual predators, toughened penalties for the trafficking, production and importation of date rape drugs through the Increasing Offenders' Accountability for Victims Act, and brought forward the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, to ensure the well-being of women living on reserves.

Backgrounder

Organizations receiving funding under the call for proposals - Engaging Young People to Prevent Violence against Women on Post-Secondary Campuses:

Corner Brook Status of Women Council (CBSWC), Corner Brook, NL;
Mount Allison Students' Union, Sackville, NB;
Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, Inc. (FSACC), Fredericton NB;
Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne Inc., Paquetville, NB;
Antigonish Women's Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association, Antigonish, NS;
Association chrétienne des jeunes femmes de Montréal (Y des femmes/YWCA Montréal), Montréal, QC;
La Pointe du jour CALACS Sept-Îles, Sept-Îles, QC;
Interim Place, Mississauga, ON;
Ottawa Coalition to End Violence against Women, Ottawa, ON;
Scarborough Women's Centre, Scarborough, ON;
Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area (SACHA), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON;
Urban Alliance on Race Relations, Toronto, ON;
Yellow Brick House, Richmond Hill, ON;
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, Kitchener, ON;
Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, Edmonton, AB;
Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, Edmonton, AB;
University of Alberta, Student's Union, Edmonton, AB;
YWCA Lethbridge and District, Lethbridge, AB;
Alberni Community and Women's Services Society, Port Alberni, BC;
MOSAIC (Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities), Vancouver, BC; and,
Royal Roads University Student Association, Victoria, BC.

These organizations will work with college and/or university campuses in their communities.

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada