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Press release ...

Click here to visit the ArcticNet web site for more information

Circumpolar Nations Join Canada in Creating an Alliance of Arctic Research Networks

QUEBEC, May 25 - Arctic research networks from Russia, Norway, France and the United States are taking part in a Canadian-led initiative that will provide the most comprehensive picture yet of the impact of climate change on the entire Arctic region.

The ArcticNet Network of Centres of Excellence has been awarded $815,000 in new funding by the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) to create an international alliance of Arctic research networks, where scientists will share technical expertise and data on the region of the world most affected by climate change.

"We cannot get an accurate sense of the circumpolar scale changes happening in the Arctic by limiting ourselves to studying just the Canadian Arctic. Whether it's the Canadians, Americans or others, we all need an Arctic synthesis of what's going on. By focusing on only the Canadian Arctic, we miss half the picture," says Dr. Louis Fortier, Scientific Director of ArcticNet.

The international alliance of research networks will produce the intelligence Canada needs to respond to major Arctic issues moving to the forefront of the country's agenda, including the health of Inuit, intercontinental shipping, national sovereignty and oil and gas development.

Inuit collaborators from around the world will play a major role in the new International Partnership Initiative. Funds will help ArcticNet's Inuit partners to attend international meetings in Canada and abroad. "This initiative will provide the opportunity to enhance linkages with the best Centres of excellence in the rest of the world, improving not only ArcticNet's network, but also circumpolar Inuit networking capabilities on an international level," said Duane Smith, President, Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada) and Mary Simon, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

Through the funding of a new international Ph.D. School and a major international Arctic meeting in 2008, a key goal of this Canadian-led initiative is to help train a new generation of Arctic scientists who are highly skilled, internationally connected and comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams with researchers from the health, social and natural sciences.

"These young trainees, whether they are masters, Ph.Ds or post-doctoral fellows, are already forming the next international network of scientists. They are getting to know each other, work together in the field, and share ideas at scientific meetings all over the world," adds Dr. Fortier.

In 2007 and 2008, ArcticNet investigators and students will work aboard a Russian icebreaker in the Siberian Sea, effectively doubling their access to the Arctic Ocean. Their partnership with the Russia-led Nansen-Amundsen Basin Observational System (NABOS) Network represents one of the most active and promising international collaborations in Arctic geography.

The partnership with NABOS will also give Canadian investigators privileged access to data from that network's Long-Term Oceanic Observatory, which records temperature, salinity, water velocity/direction and ice draft in the Siberian Arctic Ocean. As well, ArcticNet and NABOS, along with Norway's ARCTOS Network and France's DAMOCLES Network, are coordinating their oceanic observatories into a network that will provide an unprecedented view of the peripheral circulation that dictates the oceanic heat balance in the Arctic Basin.

"Thanks to a forward-looking investment by the Government of Canada, we are connecting with foreign networks which have the means to access the rest of the Arctic Ocean," adds Dr. Fortier. "Not only are we now taking our due place in an international network of networks, we're taking the leadership on it."

Networks of Centres of Excellence are unique partnerships among universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations aimed at turning Canadian research and entrepreneurial talent into economic and social benefits for all Canadians.

ArcticNet brings together scientists in the natural, human health and social sciences and decision makers with their partners in Inuit organizations, northern communities, government and industry to help Canadians face the impacts and opportunities of climate change and globalization in the Arctic. Over 110 ArcticNet researchers and 300 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates and technicians from 28 Canadian universities and five Federal departments collaborate on thirty research projects with more than 100 partner organizations from Canada, the USA, Japan, Denmark, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, Greenland and France.

For further information: Martin Fortier, Executive Director, ArcticNet, (418) 656-5830, www.arcticnet.ulaval.ca

News update ...

The Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women announced a $302,204 grant to the Canadian Women's Community Economic Development Council (CWCEDC) to help increase employment opportunities for low-income women, benefiting not only the participants themselves, but also their families and their communities. (see press release below)

Visit http://www.cwcedc-cpdecf.org to learn more about the CWCEDC.

From their web site ...

The Canadian Women’s Community Economic Development Council (CWCEDC) was founded in 2002 to advance women-centred community economic development as a means of reducing poverty and improving the lives of women, their families and communities.

We do so by: 

• increasing the awareness of the effectiveness of holistic, women-centred CED
• researching and documenting issues, trends and outcomes of the diversity and spectrum of women-centred CED, and
• strengthening women-centred CED sector and organizations

We actively participate in, present research findings and address policy issues at social policy forums, round tables and consultations.

The CWCEDC is a nationally incorporated not-for-profit organization of women community economic development practitioners.

Community Economic Development (CED) is local economic development that is focussed on people, employment, self-employment, inclusion and sustainability. Its goal is to provide meaningful work for all, at a level of income that provides a secure livelihood, in jobs that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

Contact Information:

Canadian Women’s Community Economic Development Council
110-105 May Street, North
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7C 3N9
Tel:    807.625.0328
Fax:   807.625.0317

info@cwcedc-cpdecf.org

Government Press Release ...

Federal Government Supports Projects to Improve the Quality of Life for Women in Thunder Bay and the Robinson Superior Treaty Area

THUNDER BAY, ON, May 26 - The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, today announced three grants to the following local organizations:

- $302,204 to the Canadian Women's Community Economic Development Council (CWCEDC);
- $65,000 to the Waabi-ma'iingan Traditional Teaching Lodge (Grey Wolf); and
- $50,554 to the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario (EFSNWO).

"Canada's New Government is proud to support these initiatives, which take concrete action to address the economic security of women in their communities and help Aboriginal women to overcome the challenges they may face," said Minister Oda. "The CWCEDC project will help increase employment opportunities for low-income women, benefiting not only the participants themselves, but also their families and their communities. The joint project of the Robinson Superior Treaty Women's Council and the Waabi-ma'iingan Traditional Teaching Lodge project will empower Aboriginal women of the Robinson Superior Treaty Area and enable them to participate more fully in their communities. And the Elizabeth Fry project will help women in Thunder Bay, particularly Aboriginal women, to break the cycle of crime and imprisonment."

"Our project will help women-centred community economic development organizations to increase their market share and their capacity to innovate and create additional employment for grassroots women in communities across Canada," said Ms. Rosalind Lockyer, President of CWCEDC.

The CWCEDC is a nationally incorporated not-for-profit organization of women community economic development practitioners working to advance women-centred community economic development as a means of reducing poverty and improving the lives of women, their families and communities. The funding supports the project Tools for Sustainability for Women-Centred Community Economic Development.

"The Robinson Superior Treaty Women's Council - Waabi-ma'iingan (Grey Wolf) Traditional Teaching Lodge project - Kitchen Table Tour: Phase 2 - will facilitate 21 community gatherings of Aboriginal women in the Robinson Superior Treaty Area. As well as sharing traditional teachings and wisdom, participants will be empowered to create community action plans and regional skills and resource inventories," said Corporation President Norma Fawcett.

The Kitchen Table Tour: Phase 2 is a seven-month joint project of the Waabi-ma'iingan Traditional Teaching Lodge (Grey Wolf) and the Robinson Superior Treaty Women's Council (RSTWC). Created to preserve and promote traditional teachings and language, Grey Wolf is currently working with Robinson Superior communities to develop an accountability framework based on the "clan governing system." The RSTWC works with Grey Wolf to empower local Aboriginal women in all aspects of their lives.

Ms. Alice Marie Taylor, EFSNWO Board President, said, "Working for Change offers six inter-related pilot projects that test approaches to assisting women who come into conflict with the law, many of whom have faced major barriers and systemic disadvantages in their lives."

The EFSNWO is one of 10 Elizabeth Fry Societies in Ontario. Through their professional staff and volunteers, they provide programs and services, such as counselling, financial assistance, accommodation, court assistance and emotional support, from the time a woman is arrested through to her discharge and return to the community. The new funding supports Working for Change, a project geared to Thunder Bay-area women in conflict with the law, 90% of Aboriginal descent.

Status of Women Canada is a federal government agency working to promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and cultural life of Canada.

Visit Status of Women Canada's Web site at http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/.

For further information: Véronique Bruneau, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, (819) 997-7788; Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director of Communications, Status of Women Canada, (613) 995-7839; This release is also available on the Status of Women Canada Web site: http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.