FRANCOPHONE WOMEN'S GROUP RECEIVES INTERNET ACCESS AND TRAINING GRANT

Released on August 10, 1998

Andy Renaud, MLA for Carrot River Valley, on behalf of Judy Bradley,

minister responsible for the Status of Women, today presented a

Francophone women's organization with a grant to enable them to access

the Internet and train members to use the new communications

technologies.



The Federation provinciale des Fransaskoises, Zenon Park Chapter will

receive $7,000 from the Women's Organizations On Line Program, an

initiative of the Saskatchewan Women's Secretariat.



"This program will strengthen the ability of community groups to deal

with pressing issues such as poverty, unemployment and family

violence," Renaud said.



"Our organization now has the opportunity to link with groups across

the province and access information quickly," said Helene Marchildon,

President for Federation provinciale des Fransaskoises, Zenon Park

Chapter. "This will help us meet the needs of our members better."



Renaud noted that at a recent Internet symposium for Saskatchewan

women, keynote speaker and President of Meta Strategies Inc. Liz

Rykert stated that this program is in the forefront in Canada and that

Saskatchewan is leading the way for other provinces and territories.



The majority of groups receiving funding provide support and

services to lower income women, First Nations or Metis women,

rural or northern women, visible minority and immigrant women and

women who are victims of violence.



"We look forward to Saskatchewan women's organizations' strong

presence online locally, nationally and internationally," Renaud

said.



The Federation Provinciale des Fransaskoises is the voice of

French-speaking women in Saskatchewan. It addresses a wide

variety of issues concerning women, such as health, new family

structures, financial autonomy, and violence prevention.



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For more information, contact:



Neena Saxena

Women's Secretariat

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-7012





Helene Marchildon

Federation provinciale des Fransaskoises Zenon Park

Zenon Park

Phone: (306) 767-2584