Minister Joly Marks 100 Years in the Fight for Women's Rights in Canada

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 7, 2016) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced a total of $1,245,890 in funding for various organizations for projects related to the 100^th anniversary of women's first right to vote in Canada.

The funding will help organizations, including Equal Voices and the Girls Action Foundation, undertake activities that include a skills training program for young women, women's leadership workshops, and the creation of radio spots and a photo exhibition on outstanding women in Canadian history.

The projects will help Canadians better understand the importance of women's first right to vote in the history of Canada, and the part that this victory played in shaping the country that we know today.

Quick Facts

• The year 2016 marks the 100^th anniversary of women's first right to vote in Canada.
• Six organizations are receiving a total of $1,245,890 in financial support for their projects to celebrate this historic anniversary (see Backgrounder).
• Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta were the first Canadian provinces to give women the right to vote in 1916. This was one of the first steps toward gender equality and women's rights.
• In cooperation with the offices of the lieutenant governors, activities were organized in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to mark the 100^th anniversary of the first right to vote for women in these three provinces.
• The theme of History Week, which ends today, is the 100^th anniversary of women's first right to vote in Canada.

Quotes

"This year, we are marking the 100^th anniversary of women's first right to vote in Canada. As we get closer to the 150^th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, I am proud to support the efforts of organizations that recognize the importance of this anniversary for Canadian society and the crucial role that women have played in the history of Canada."

- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Associated Links

Status of Women - Women's First Right to Vote

Canadian Heritage - 100th Anniversary of Women's First Right to Vote

Prime Minister of Canada - Statement

Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba - News Release

Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan - Statement

Lieutenant Governor of Alberta - Special Initiative

Canada History Week

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Backgrounder

Canadian Heritage has provided funding for various activities marking the 100^th anniversary of women's right to vote.

• Equal Voice ($470,000) will offer a host of activities to highlight the progress achieved over the last 100 years in women's access to leadership positions. The activities include women's leadership workshops, a two-day national forum for young women from across Canada, and "Daughters of the Vote" (a women's representation project).
• Girls Action Foundation ($259,400) will organize a skills training program for young women and a photo exhibition about outstanding women in Canadian history.
• The Association de la presse francophone ($190,800) will print a special insert in French and English, to be distributed in the publications of its members as well as the members of the Quebec Community Newspaper Association. The insert will highlight the 100^th anniversary of women's right to vote in 2016. It will have a special focus on outstanding French-Canadian women who, through their commitment, changed the status of women.
• Teach Magazine ($150,000) will create an interactive and bilingual digital educational resource in association with school programs. Designed for teachers and students, the resource will explore the barriers and challenges faced by women who fought for the right to vote, as well as their successes. It is intended for students in grades 6 to 12 and could be used by 3 million students and more than 100,000 teachers.
• Historica Canada ($100,690) is developing educational material for classroom use that profile the events that laid the foundations for today's Canada. The educational guides will be distributed in 7,000 schools across Canada. The programs will provide a basis for understanding foundational events in Canadian history that are marking anniversaries in 2016, including the 100^th anniversary of women's first right to vote.
• The Mouvement des intervenants et intervenantes communautaires en radio de l'Ontario (MICRO) ($75,000) will present a series of 25 French-language radio spots explaining the role of Canadian women in the country's economic and social development, as well as in decision making, including the right to vote.

The offices of the lieutenant governors of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan also organized different activities to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of women's right to vote in these provinces (on January 28 in Manitoba, March 14 in Saskatchewan and April 19 in Alberta). To find out more, visit the websites of these provinces' lieutenant governors (see "Associated Links").

The theme of History Week is the 100^th anniversary of women's first right to vote in Canada. To learn more, visit canada.pch.gc.ca.