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Constance Lake and Nipissing First Nations as well as Seven Generations benefit from funding for women's training initiatives from the Ontario gov't ...

Ontario government press release ...

McGuinty Government Helps Abused And At-Risk Women Get Jobs - Project to Include Nipissing and Constance Lake First Nations

New Skills Training Program Lays Foundation For Economic Independence

TORONTO, Nov. 20 - Minister Responsible for Women's Issues Sandra Pupatello today announced a new $4 million training program that will help vulnerable women develop new skills, find employment, and achieve economic independence.

"Women who have made the difficult decision to leave an abusive situation have told me that one of their biggest concerns - after their personal safety and the safety of their children - is being able to provide for themselves and their families," said Minister Pupatello. "That's why our government is introducing a program that will give vulnerable women the opportunity to develop new skills so that they can get well-paying jobs."

Ten organizations across the province will receive funding over the next two years through the Employment Training Pilot Program to administer and deliver programs offering skills training, education, support and counselling. Each program consists of a three-way partnership between a violence against women group, a training organization and an employer.

George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto is delivering one of the programs, a residential air conditioning systems mechanic training program being offered in partnership with Direct Energy Essential Home Services and Nellie's Shelter.

"A good education is an essential factor in helping women become economically independent, and the Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic program is an ideal fit because the skilled trades offer well-paying jobs and flexible employment prospects," said Anne Sado, President of George Brown College Applied Arts and Technology. "Women in this program also will benefit from a learning environment sensitive to their needs as they recover from abuse."

Lee Rose, Direct Energy's Senior Vice-President, Home Services Canada, said, "Direct Energy has a tremendous need for qualified trades people to support our heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician base, which is the largest in Ontario. We're proud to partner with George Brown College and local women's and community organizations to help women build better lives by acquiring a skilled trade."

The pilot training program is part of the government's comprehensive, $68-million Domestic Violence Action Plan, introduced in December 2004.

Other government initiatives to promote women's economic independence and prevent domestic violence include:

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- Investing $2.7 million over two years to provide information technology training for low-income women;
- Investing $1.5 million to provide pre-apprenticeship training in the skilled trades for low-income women who are unemployed or underemployed;
- Investing $58 million over four years to provide community services to victims, including counseling and shelter;
- Investing $5.9 million to train professionals to recognize the signs of abuse earlier and give women the support they need; and
- Investing $4.9 million for a public education campaign targeting children and youth and the adults who influence them, to change attitudes and mobilize communities to stop violence before it happens.

"The Domestic Violence Employment Training Pilot Program gives women the opportunity to find sustainable employment and achieve economic security which are important steps for their future and the future of their families," said Pupatello.

Disponible en français
www.ontariowomensdirectorate.gov.on.ca

Backgrounder
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GOVERNMENT FUNDS 10 EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PILOT PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK WOMEN

The Ontario government is investing more than $4 million over two years in a new Employment Training Pilot Projects Program for more than 450 women who have experienced domestic violence, or are at risk. The program will help women gain confidence, new skills and, ultimately, employment and economic independence.

The Ontario government is committed to helping these women change their circumstance through public awareness and programs to prevent domestic violence. The Employment Training Pilot Project Program is part of a four-year, $68 million Domestic Violence Action Plan.

The Employment Training Pilot Projects Program will benefit women in the following communities:

- Calstock (West of Hearst)
The province is investing $469,996 in the Constance Lake First Nation to train 20 Aboriginal women in Aboriginal crafts/trades, customer service skills and employment. Partners include: Jane Mattinas Health Centre; Northern College; and Eagle's Earth Cree and Ojibway Historical Centre tourism site.

Program start date: November 2006

Contact Information:
Ms. Terry John-George
Executive Director,
Constance Lake First Nation
3 Shan-Way-Shoo
Calstock, ON P0L 1B0
Tel: 705-463-4511
Fax: 705-463-2222
Email: jbterry@clfn.on.ca.

- District of Nipissing
The province is investing $500,000 in the Nipissing First Nations to deliver individualized employment readiness training, academic upgrading and trades training to 60 Aboriginal women, including women with disabilities and women from rural and isolated communities.
Partners include: Canadore College; YES Employment Services Inc.; Disability Employment Opportunities Committee; Ojibway Family Resource Centre; People for Equal Partnership in Mental Health; and Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

Program start date: December 2006

Contact Information:
Ms. Brenda Restoule
Employment Manager,
Nipissing First Nations
36 Semo Rd.
Garden Village, ON P2B 3K2
Tel: 705-753-2050
Fax: 705-753-0207
Email: brendar@nfn.ca.

- Fort Frances
The province is investing $246,225 in the Seven Generations Education Institute to deliver academic upgrading, communications, mathematics, computers, life skills, hospitality and business skills leading to employment for 20 rural Aboriginal women. Partners include: Super 8 Motel; Hotel La Place Rendez Vous; Emo Inn; Anishinaabeg Community Counselling Services; and Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong.

Program start date: October 2006

Contact Information:
Ms. Lisa Mik-onini
Project Coordinator,
Seven Generations Education Institute
1455 Idylwild Drive, P.O. Box 297
Fort Frances, ON P9A 3M6
Tel: 807-274-2796
Fax: 807-274-8761
Email: lisam@7generations.org.

- Lambton County
The province is investing $289,600 in the Women's Interval Home of Sarnia & Lambton Inc. to provide employment-readiness training and academic upgrading program to help 100 women find work placements and employment. Partners include: Lambton College; Lambton County; Lambton County Social Services - Ontario Works; and The Body Shop.

Program start date: January 2007

Contact Information:
Ms. Karen Hunter
Executive Director,
Women's Interval Home of Sarnia & Lambton Inc.
681 Oxford St. Sarnia, ON N7T 6Z7
Tel: (519) 336-5200, ext.30
Fax: (519) 336-7897
Email: karen@sarniawih.pointclark.net.

- Niagara
The province is investing $305,000 in the Niagara Women's Enterprise Centre to provide 50 women with training and work placements in food, hospitality and retail services. Partners include: Niagara College and the Tourism Industry Development Centre; Women's Place St. Catharines & North Niagara; Women's Place South Niagara Inc.; YWCA; Women's Resource Centre (Beamsville); Bethlehem Projects of Niagara; Employment Help Centre of Welland & St. Catharines; Convergys; Opportunities Niagara; Absolute Hospitality; Folk Arts Council of St. Catharines; Immigrant Women's Network of Niagara; The 21st Group; Niagara Regional Housing; and Niagara Presents.

Program start date: February 2007

Contact Information:
Ms. Betty Ann Baker
Executive Director,
Niagara Women's Enterprise Centre
178 King St. 3rd Fl.
Welland, ON L3B 3J5
Tel: 905-788-0166 ext. 205
Email: babaker@nphcr.ca.

- Ottawa
The province is investing $205,609 in La Cité des affaires de La Cité collégiale to train 10 francophone women as office clerks, accounting assistants or administrative assistants, and provide work placement and job search support. Partners include: Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre, Diffusart International, and Montfort Renaissance.

Program start date: November 2006

Contact Information:
Mme. Lyne Michaud
directrice executive,
La Cité des affaires de La Cité collégiale
801 promenade de L'Aviation
Ottawa, ON J8M 2B8
Tel: 613-742-2475
Email: lmicha@lacitec.on.ca.

- Toronto
The province is investing $309,157 in COSTI Immigrant Services to train 40 immigrant women as certified computerized accounting clerks through an online program. Partners include: Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning; Woman Abuse Council of Toronto; and Manpower Inc.

Program start date: December 2006

Contact Information:
Mr. Robert Cazzola
Director, Education and Information Technology
COSTI Immigrant Services
1710 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON M6E 3P2
Tel: 416-534-7400
Email: cazzola@costi.org.

- Toronto
The province is investing $388,440 in George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology to train 22 women as residential air conditioning systems mechanics. Partners include: Direct Energy Essential Home Services; Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape; Nellie's; and Parkdale Project Read.

Program start date: January 2007

Contact Information:
Mr. Rolf Priesnitz, Chair Apprenticeship Programs
Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 4371
Email: rpriesni@gbrownc.on.ca.
And
Ms. Mandy Bonisteel, Coordinator, Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocate Program
Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 2121
Email: mboniste@gbrownc.on.ca.
George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology
St. James Campus
200 King Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 3W8

- Toronto
The province is investing $500,000 in Woodgreen Community Services to deliver employment-readiness and life skills training, academic upgrading, information technology training or internship to earn a college diploma to 32 women. Partners include: Seneca College; International Computer Drivers Licence; Homeward Bound Industry Council; TD Bank Financial Group; and The Redwood Shelter.

Program start date: September 2006

Contact Information:
Ms. Anne Babcock
Vice President Planning and Operations
WoodGreen Community Services
835 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4N 1H9
Tel: 416-469-5211
Email: ababcock@woodgreen.org.

- Toronto
The province is investing $855,946 in the YWCA of Greater Toronto to deliver an eight-week employment-readiness training program and an 18-week additional individualized training program with work placements and job maintenance support to 100 women. Partners include: Springtide Resources; York University; A Commitment to Training and Employment for Women; PPG Canada; and D. Gary Gibson and Associates.

Program start date: November 2006

Contact Information:
Ms. Marilda Tselepis
Director, Employment and Skills Development
YWCA of Greater Toronto
80 Woodlawn Ave. East
Toronto, ON M4T 1C1
Tel: 416-961-8100
Email: mtselepis@ywcatoronto.org