The monthly Ceilidh Concert at the beautiful Bonshaw Hall will be Sunday, March 24th from 2 - 4 pm. Featuring harmonious singing duo Riley's Lane (Betty Calagoure and Carol Carson), fine fiddler Karson McKeown, Havenwood Studio Step Dancers and local musicians.There will be a 50/50 draw, delicious biscuits for lunch, and open stage time. Admission is by donation with proceeds this
month going to the PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society. For more information, please call 675-4093 or 675-4282 or check the facebook event page.
4) CLIA’s Best Interests of the Child in Custody and Access - Free Course – New Dates
In this course you will learn:
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What you can expect if you have to go to court to resolve a custody and access dispute.
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How the ‘best interests of the children’ can be met.
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Ways to resolve your dispute outside of court.
These sessions are delivered by a volunteer lawyer. Professionals who work with clients in this area are also welcome.
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March 26th & 28th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
(Sophie MacDonald, Matheson & Murray )
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April 30th & May 7th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
(Shannon Farrell, McInnes Cooper)
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June 4th & 5th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
(Cathy Chaisson, Legal Aid)
To register, please contact:
5) Abortion Rights Network Still Awaiting Answers
In January of this year, before the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that struck down Canada's abortion law on the grounds of women's rights, the PEI Abortion Rights Network sent a letter to Premier Robert Ghiz. The Premier has responded with an acknowledgment of the letter but no answer to the direct questions posed by the half-dozen member organizations of the Abortion Rights Network. The Network has responded with an open video letter to government. The video is viewable at vimeo.com/61340005
"The Premier has stated publicly that he will maintain the 'status quo' on abortion access," says Network member Jane Ledwell from the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women. "The 'status quo' is that there is no legal restriction on abortion in Canada. And yet, after 25 years of decriminalized abortion in Canada, the 'status quo' in Prince Edward Island also remains that Island women have to leave the province for surgical abortion, even though the skills, equipment, and expertise for the procedure are all accessible here."
Says Network member Emily Rutledge from PRRO, "Part of the 'status quo' here in PEI is also that a past government passed an anti-choice resolution. But the current government is not held to past resolutions and has the opportunity to give Island women a different message about reproductive rights. We think it's past time for our government to clarify what they mean by 'status quo.' We don't think their definition will hold up either to public opinion or to constitutional rights."
The PEI Abortion Rights Network has sent an open video letter to PEI political decision-makers. More than a dozen Islanders contributed to this "letter" to Premier Robert Ghiz, Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie, and Health PEI officials to give the message it is time for local access to abortion and for reproductive justice for Prince Edward Island Women.
The Network posted the video letter on International Women's Day, March 8. "Our Network continues to wait for the government to clarify how they justify denying local abortion access to Island women," says Josie Baker from the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.
6) Business Skills Training Survey
Having the right skills and knowledge is an important key to success in any job or business. In an effort to better understand what business owners and employees need for business skills training in PEI, an Island business association is supporting a market survey into the topic and would like to hear from you. Simply follow the link below and share your thoughts.
Thank you for your time and support!
7) LAMP Workshop on Land Protection
The Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) is presenting a community workshop concerning the land on Sunday, April 7, 2013 2:00 - 4:30 pm. It will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Hall, 151 Stratford Road, Stratford, PEI. The title of the workshop is Stewardship of the Land/Water/Air: a Document for the Horace Carver Commission on the Lands Protection Act.
The goal of the workshop is to discover some basic community agreements on the care of the land/water/air and to prepare together a submission to the Commission on the PEI Lands Protection Act.
All interested Islanders are welcome. Pre-registration is required. To register: e-mail vrc@eastlink.ca or call Sylvie at 368-7337 by April 2, 2013.
8) Sharing your Passion for Health Equity: Building our Collective Understanding
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
9 am to 3 pm
CAST Building, Holland College
Charlottetown, PEI
The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH) has teamed up with the Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities (ASI) and the NB and PEI Branch of the Canadian Public Health Association to offer people in Prince Edward Island an opportunity to explore health equity ideas and opportunities.
The interactive workshop is open to people in the broad public health sector: practitioners, community health leaders, policy developers and researchers…as well as people involved in education, safety, and social and economic development. Participants will examine models of good practice and public health leadership and share their experiences, all towards building a stronger community of practice for health equity on PEI.
Join us to learn more about
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the social determinants of health and their links to health equity
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the role of public health in addressing health equity
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people and projects that are focused on creating greater health equity in PEI
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equity work in other provinces
Morning snacks and lunch are provided.
9) Backpack Campaign to Support Women
Lack of trust is a tangible road block for many marginalized women. At ODM we use backpacks of personal hygiene products to let women know that we are available to them with no strings attached. Every Easter we ask the public and our partners to help us fill a backpack.
A Backpack of personal hygiene products and some basic clothing items are essential, simple items to help people make a fresh start. It is the first step in helping someone begin to feel like a person. We also supply Backpacks for men who are being released from Corrections in cooperation with the John Howard Society. We are constantly frustrated by our inability to have enough hygiene products to meet the demand. Community support is crucial.
We have calculated that approximately $44.00 will provide one backpack filled with personal hygiene products. Forty four dollars provides a backpack, shampoo, hair gel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, comb, razor, shaving cream, socks, underwear, facecloth and towel if we have them. It is gratifying to see some of the people we have helped carrying their backpacks when we meet them for appointments after their release from incarceration or when we connect in the community. We are meeting a need in the community which then leads to further connections after release.
Our records show that we have given out approximately 200 backpacks over the last three years. This number could have been much higher. As we begin collecting statistics for our 2012-2013 fiscal year we estimate that we could be looking to help 100 people with a backpack. It truly is the small things that make a difference, one backpack at a time.
Open Door Ministries, 374 University Avenue, Charlottetown.PE.C1A 4N3
902-628-6826
10) Period of PURPLE Crying Program® - purple infant hats still needed!
The Department of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with Health PEI and the Department of Community Services and Seniors, launched the Period of PURPLE Crying program at the QEH and PCH hospitals on 26 November, 2012.
The Period of PURPLE Crying program teaches families and caregivers about the normal patterns of infant crying. This teaching has been proven to help prevent infant abuse and injuries due to shaking.
If You Knit or Crochet: To help create awareness of the program a purple hat will be given to every baby born on PEI over the first year of the Period of PURPLE Crying program. There are approximately 1450 babies born on PEI each year, so that many hats are needed to give out! Any shade of purple yarn is fine. Any infant hat pattern can be used.
Additional patterns can be found at: http://clickforbabies.org/. Hats that are knitted or crocheted can be given to the QEH or PCH Hospitals maternity units, with a note “for the Period of PURPLE Crying Babies.” Hats for QEH can also be given to their volunteer services office.
11) Canada Business Blog - Canada Revenue Agency videos
Did you know you must keep your business records for 6 years? Learn about your tax obligations from start-up, to reporting, to payroll deductions. Read our latest blog for more information.
