Status of Women Committee

The Status of Women Committee is a long-standing committee of VESTA, and is dedicated to improving the working lives of women, improving opportunities for girls and women, challenging sexism, and eliminating gender discrimination in our public schools and in our communities. The Committee meets 4:30pm, once a month at the VESTA office. Upcoming meeting dates: Monday, 2010 February 8

The Famous 5 Ottawa Committee is a volunteer group that was instrumental in the development of the Women Are Persons! Monument on Parliament Hill to commemorate the efforts of Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henerietta Muir Edwards and Louse McKinney. The Committee also worked to ensure the new $50 bill recognizes women as nation builders. More information at the National Council of Women of Canada website: www.ncwc.ca

Between 2007 April 1 and 2008 March 31, approximately 101,000 women and children were admitted to 569 shelters in Canada...on 2008 April 16 (survey snapshot day) nearly 80% of the women and children were attempting to flee an abusive situation...for three-quarters of women in shelters, the abuse was inflicted by a spouse or former spouse. Statistics Canada 85-002X (2008), Published May 2009

In 1995, the Federal Plan for Gender Equlity called on all federal departments and agencies to implement gender-based analysis (GBA)...In 2009, however, an Office of the Auditor General review showed that only the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada had addressed all required aspects of this. 2009 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada