NEWS RELEASE
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
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The 20th Annual Chocolate Rose Campaign gets underway to commemorate International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8.
The theme for this year’s campaign is: Pledge For Parity
In 2015 the World Economic Forum predicted it would take until the year 2133 for the gender gap to close entirely.
This year, our International Women’s Day campaign is encouraging community members to take action to help achieve gender parity sooner.
These actions may include helping women and girls achieve their ambitions or to call for more women in positions of leadership.
Be part of the celebration of women’s accomplishments using #PledgeForParity and #IWD2016 on social media.
Once again this year, Tranquility House, Timmins & Area Women in Crisis, H.E.R. Place, Villa RenouvEllement and Centre Passerelle pour femmes du Nord de l’Ontario continue to collaborate to make this campaign successful.
Through this united voice we are anticipating this campaign to have a positive and lasting impact on our community.
The idea for the Chocolate Rose Campaign comes from the many women who marched through New York City in 1908 demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights and putting an end to child labour.
The slogan “Bread and Roses” was adopted to symbolize economic security and a better quality of life.
“Communities have been very supportive of this initiative and this year staff and volunteers from all the violence against women’s service providers will be delivering chocolate roses to area women in local, key strategic locations” says Kim Nadeau, Program Manager at Tranquility House.
“The women handing out the chocolate roses will be easily identified by their purple scarves. Purple is the international colour associated with the International Women’s Day Campaign that happens annually in recognition of removing abuse completely. Woman abuse affects everyone and we are glad to see our local communities standing behind us in creating that awareness.”
The City of Timmins, Black-River Matheson and Iroquois Falls have all agreed by Official Proclamation to declare Tuesday, March 8, 2016 as International Women’s Day.
Representatives from all violence against women services will visit Timmins City Hall on Monday, February 22 at 10 a.m., Black-River Matheson council chambers on Wednesday, February 24 at 10 a.m. followed by Iroquois Falls at their town office on Monday, February 29 at 10 a.m. to hand deliver a chocolate rose.
Backgrounder
Based on a feminist analysis, the Violence Against Women agencies in Timmins and its surrounding area work collaboratively toward ending violence against women and their children.
Our agencies include both women’s shelters and sexual assault centres.
Working from an anti-racist/anti-oppressive perspective, we strive to create culturally and linguistically to women.
We are committed to offering a high quality of support services to women and believe strongly that women are the experts of their own lives; therefore, they are encouraged to choose whichever services best meet their individual needs.
Sexual assault centres:
Timmins & Area Women in Crisis – 1-877-268-8380
Centre Passerelle pour Femme du Nord de l’Ontario – 1-888-360-5657
Women’s Shelters:
Villa RenouvEllement – 1-877-748-8452
H.E.R. Place – 1-855-827-7233
Tranquility House – 1-866-993-2339
A trained worker will provide you with emotional support and practical assistance if you are in an abusive situation. Call anytime, night or day.
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