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Executive Council

May 5, 2009

Minister Announces New President and Board for Advisory Council

The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, announced today the appointment of a new president and three new board members for the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

"I am very pleased that these capable women have agreed to bring their perspectives to the table," said Minister Dunderdale. "We have a strong board whose members� collective experience and knowledge reflects current issues facing women in this province. I look forward to working with the president and board over the next three years."

Linda Ross is the new president, replacing former president Leslie MacLeod. Existing board member Carolyn Lavers is taking on role of vice-president. Newly-appointed board members Kelly Power, Stephanie Flowers and Regina Bailey are joining existing members Yamuna Kutty, Hilda Whelan, Michelle Murdoch, Phyllis Seymour, Vanessa MacArthur and Mary Pia Benuen.

"Ms. Ross brings a tremendous amount of experience to this important position with a strong background in community development and outreach as a national team leader for Oxfam Canada," said Minister Dunderdale. "She has made significant strides in advancing women�s rights and her dedication and commitment to women�s equality will be invaluable assets to the advisory council."

Minister Dunderdale also extended her gratitude to the former president, Ms. MacLeod, for her hard work and to all the women who worked with her over the years.

The Provincial Advisory Council provides advice to the minister and the Provincial Government and brings public attention to important social, political, legal, cultural and economic matters relating to women in Newfoundland and Labrador. The council works with equality-seeking organizations and government departments and agencies to advance women�s equality throughout the province.

"I�m very pleased to have the opportunity of working with a board of strong and accomplished feminists," said Ms. Ross. "I�ve always seen the Provincial Advisory Council as having the unique opportunity of working with grassroots women and the Provincial Government to advance women�s equality. Through this collaboration, there have been real gains made for women and I�d like to think, together, we can make even more. I look forward to our working together to continue to build on the excellent work that has already been done."

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Media contact:
Erin Molloy
Communications Specialist
Women�s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 693-7938
erinmolloy@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
Biographies of the Board of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women

Linda Ross served as team leader of policy and outreach for Oxfam Canada, where she worked in various roles for 25 years. She has a history of leadership and experience in dealing with issues that affect women on a global scale. She is a long-standing and active volunteer on the International Women�s Day Committee as well other groups, committees and coalitions related to women�s health, education and culture. Ms. Ross resides in St. John�s.

Carolyn Lavers is currently a business consultant in Port au Choix. This is her second term. She is a small business entrepreneur, community volunteer and served as Mayor of Port au Choix and on several local business development boards.

Mary Pia Benuen is the community health nurse with the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, a position she has held for 19 years. She has served on a number of regional and national boards, including the Native Women of Quebec and Labrador, the Aboriginal Nurses of Canada and the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Advisory Committee.

Yamuna Kutty resides in St. John�s and is currently the president of the Multicultural Women�s Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador. She has also served on the St. John�s Status of Women Council, the National Action Committee, UNICEF and the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada. This is Ms. Kutty�s second term.

Vanessa MacArthur of Port aux Basques is currently a citizen service officer with Service Canada. She is the former president and chair of the Gateway Status of Women Council. She has a strong background in dealing with equality and women�s issues.

Michelle Murdoch is serving her second term. She is a graduate of the Women�s Studies program at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is on the board of the Independent Living Resource Centre as the provincial representative for Independent Living Canada, and has been involved with the Disabled Women�s Network of Canada and the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities. She lives in St. John�s.

Phyllis Seymour lives in Little Bay Islands and is serving her second term. She is a retired social worker with a long-standing history of involvement with social justice and equality issues. She received the Governor General�s Persons Case Award in 1998.

Hilda Whelan of Whitbourne is serving her second term. Just a few years ago, she fought for women�s rights in a case involving surviving spouses and the Worker�s Health and Safety Compensation Commission. Ms. Whelan solely represented and fought for all widows involved in the case for 15 years.

Stephanie Flowers is currently the project co-ordinator with the Mokami Status of Women Council (MSWC) in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, where she has worked in various roles for four years. Ms. Flowers was also an employment counselor with the Canadian Paraplegic Association in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Ms. Flowers brings training in violence prevention, mental illness education and knowledge of community health.

Kelly Power is currently the director of the Carpenter Millwrights� College in Paradise.  As a member of Carpenters Union, Local 579, Ms. Power has been a union activist on equality and equity issues in her work to advance women in to non-traditional occupations. She works closely with equality-seeking organizations, such as the Women in Resource Development Committee.

Regina Bailey is a long-standing activist on women�s issues and has a strong background in multicultural/multilingual education. Ms. Bailey is highly involved in the community through her work on health-related boards and strategic social planning. She resides in Clarenville.

2009 05 05                                                  3:45 p.m. 
 


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