Women�s History Month Writing Contest Winner Selected

Sabrina Muise, from Stephenville Middle School in Stephenville, has been selected as the winner of the Department of Education and Women�s Policy Office�s Women�s History Month Writing Contest.

�I would like to congratulate Sabrina on her success in the writing contest and thank all the students across Newfoundland and Labrador who participated� said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. �It is wonderful to see students become active in opportunities to be creative and learn about Aboriginal cultures in our province.�

The Women�s Policy Office received over 40 stories from students from across Newfoundland and Labrador. Officials from the Women�s Policy Office narrowed the submissions to five then Minister Burke selected the winner of the contest.

The objective of the Women�s History Month Writing Contest was to encourage elementary/intermediate aged children across the province to learn about the significant contribution of Aboriginal women to Newfoundland and Labrador.

This was the 14th year since the Government of Canada established October as Women�s History Month. The theme of this year�s celebration was Aboriginal Women: the Journey Forward.

Minister Burke will be presenting Sabrina with her $100 cash prize during the Aboriginal Women�s conference, The Path to the Good Life: Moving Forward, Building Strength, that is being held in Stephenville from November 23 to 26. This conference is a follow up to the first ever province-wide Aboriginal women�s conference held in March 2006 titled The Path to the Good Life.

- 30 -

Media contact:
Michelle Hynes
Communications and Policy Research Analyst
Women�s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 693-2125
michellehynes@gov.nl.ca

2006 11 20                                        9:45 a.m.