October 11, 2012

PROVINCE CELEBRATES FIRST INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL

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Building Confidence Helps Girls Discover, Reach their full Potential: Howard

Helping young women gain confidence and providing them with successful role models can help them discover their self-worth and reach their goals, Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard, minister responsible for the status of women, said today as the first International Day of the Girl was celebrated at the Legislative Building.
“Our province is home to a vibrant community of girls and young women with a wide range of interests and abilities,” said Howard.  “This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to build confidence in girls and to help them discover their potential to create positive change in their communities.”
Howard noted Canada led the call for an International Day of the Girl at the United Nations to raise awareness about the particular challenges that girls face and to take action. The UN followed by declaring today the world’s first International Day of the Girl Child.
To celebrate the day, 20 girls, aged 12 to 17, were selected from across the province to participate at a day-long event at the Legislative Building.  Today’s activities include a panel presentation from other young women who are making change in their communities, the opportunity for the girls to interact with members of the legislative assembly and local entertainment.
Young women throughout the world face a variety of challenges as they strive to make their voices heard and take their place in societies that may or may not value equality,” said Marlene Bertrand, chair of the Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council that co-hosted today’s event.  “Today, in Manitoba, we stand together to support their efforts and encourage them to use their success however great or small to encourage others to follow them.”
Other Manitoba communities were invited to launch their own celebrations.  Today, the Interlake Women’s Resource Centre and the Students of Gimli High Schooltook part in a march to raise awareness of the first International Day of the Girl.  This event also included the awarding of the 2012 Eleanor Milne Scholarship and presentation of certificates of recognition to students and mentors. In Winnipeg, the North Point Douglas Women’s Centre also celebrated the day with events that included a discussion of some of the challenges girls face in Winnipeg and around the world.

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Gimli High School Upgrades

September 7, 2012

PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING TO UPGRADE SHOP CLASS EQUIPMENT AT GIMLI HIGH SCHOOL

GIMLI—The provincial government will help Gimli High School upgrade its shop class equipment, as part of a larger plan to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in Manitoba, Premier Greg Selinger announced here today.
“These upgrades will ensure Gimli High School can expand and improve the availability of skilled training opportunities for families in the area,” said Selinger.  “Helping schools in rural communities increase opportunities for technical and vocational training opportunities will mean more young people preparing for good jobs.”
The high school has used the funding to purchase a computer numerical control (CNC)
plasma-cutting system for cutting metal shapes and custom parts for the power mechanic/metals program, a CNC router system for cutting wood, foam and plastic for the woodworking/manufacturing program and new software for both programs.
The $25,000 in funding is part of the Rural and Northern Apprenticeship Training Strategy, which is designed to make it easier than ever to become an apprentice and develop Manitoba’s skilled workforce, the premier said.
The Evergreen School Division received a total of $50,000 in funding for upgrades, with $25,000 allocated to Arborg Collegiate Institute to purchase an ironworker, a hydraulic tube bender and a hydraulic press for the metals and welding program.
Manitoba Education and Apprenticeship Manitoba are currently working with Evergreen School Division to implement the upgrades and align its industrial arts programming with technical vocational education and trade-related awareness and skills development.
“This is one more step to ensure that all Manitobans can learn trades, get good jobs and start their own businesses,” said Selinger.  “With this new funding, students at Gimli High School and surrounding areas have expanded access to skilled-training opportunities and greater awareness of technical vocational education and the trades.”

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