News Release – Government of Canada to fund project to engage Vancouver–area immigrant women

Vancouver, July 13, 2010 — A Vancouver-area project funded by the Government of Canada will help female newcomers to Canada better understand and more fully engage in Canadian society. Today, John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, on behalf of Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced funding for Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-School Youngsters (HIPPY) Canada for their Practicing Citizenship project.

“Giving newcomers the tools to fully participate in Canadian society is something that will serve all Canadians in the long-run,” MP Weston said. “With today’s announcement, we are acting to help new and established Canadians succeed together in building a strong, integrated society.”

CIC’s contribution helped to establish Practicing Citizenship, a project that aims to increase the participation of ethno-cultural minority women in Canadian society. Through classes on Canadian history and democracy, practical experiences in the community, mentoring and literacy training, approximately 50 female newcomers to Canada will gain the knowledge and confidence necessary to become fully engaged in the community.

“Over time, our organization has encountered many new Canadian women who felt isolated and unable to integrate,” said Debbie Bell, Executive Director of HIPPY Canada. “With those women in mind, HIPPY Canada partnered with MOSAIC and the Multicultural Helping House Society to develop the Practicing Citizenship program. We welcome the government’s support for this important initiative.”

Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Multiculturalism Program supports projects that promote intercultural understanding and equal opportunity for people of all cultures and faiths. For more information, please visit CIC’s website.

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For further information (media only), please contact:

Celyeste Power Minister’s Office Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca