Minister to meet with status of women and violence prevention groups in central

Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, will be visiting with community groups in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor today and tomorrow to discuss issues related to the status of women and violence prevention in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Communities groups have a tremendous impact on the economic and social well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," said Minister Burke. "They play a key role in creating awareness of issues, they are the key first point of contact for many people in crisis and they are the lifeline of their communities as a whole."

This afternoon Minister Burke will meet with the staff of Cara Transition House, a safe house for women and their children leaving abusive relationships in Gander. Minister Burke will tour the facility which is currently undergoing renovations. Following the tour she will be meeting with the interim regional violence prevention coordinating committee to discuss the new plan of action to prevent violence in Newfoundland and Labrador. Minister Burke will also be visiting the Gander Status of Women Centre.

"Violence prevention is a key priority of this government," said Minister Burke. "We recognize that in order to have an impact on violence in our communities we must come together and work with those who have the frontline knowledge to stop the cycle of violence and give victims of violence the supports they need to live free from abuse."

Tomorrow (Friday, July 14) Minister Burke will meet with the women�s centre in Grand Falls-Windsor to discuss their research on healthy aging for mature women. Also while in Grand Falls-Windsor, Minister Burke will speak at an awards luncheon being held by the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) to honour NLOWE Central Region Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient Jacqueline Jenkins. Ms. Jenkins is a local lawyer and board member of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

"This is a great opportunity for me to meet with people in community organizations who have such an impact on the lives of people in central Newfoundland," said Minister Burke. "As Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and lead Minister for the Violence Prevention Initiative, I feel it is very important for me to see first-hand the exceptional work being done in all areas of the province."

Media contact: Cathy Whelan, Communications, (709) 729-6225

2006 07 13                  9:45 a.m.