Feds announce $1 million in funding over 5 years for Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre

Ottawa will provide $1 million in funding over a five-year period to an Antigonish-based women’s resource centre, the federal government announced on Tuesday.

The funding will assist the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association for their Healthy Relationships for Youth Initiative, a project that provides 1,200 Grade 9 students in Nova Scotia with the tools that “help them build and maintain healthy relationships.”

“We all have a role to play in ending gender-based and teen dating violence,” said Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor in a press release.

“By engaging youth through this project and providing resources and opportunities to learn, we can foster positive relationships, build healthy families, change attitudes and promote gender equality.”

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The federal government says the funding is part of their efforts to combat gender-based violence, or violence against people based on their gender expression, gender identity or perceived gender.

Sean Fraser, MP for Central Nova, made the announcement on behalf of Taylor on Tuesday morning.

The Healthy Relationships for Youth Initiative assists in primarily rural communities including, Mi’Kmaq and African Nova Scotian communities.

“Healthy Relationships for Youth program creates the opportunity for youth to be change agents in their schools and communities, providing them with the information and resources necessary to navigate relationships and empowering them to address issues they identify as impacting themselves and their peers,” said Arwen Sweet, the provincial co-ordinator for the program.

“We are excited to expand and grow the program and continue working towards creating healthier communities in Nova Scotia and ending gender-based violence.

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The federal government is investing more than $40 million over five years into preventing gender-based violence.