Harper Government celebrates the potential of young women and girls on International Women’s Day

 

Girls and young women invited to participate in Strong Girls, Strong World video contest

 

March 20, 2015 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Today, on behalf of the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, Bryan Hayes, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, highlighted creation of a new Girls Advisory Council to engage girls across Canada on their priorities and perspectives. MP Hayes also announced the Strong Girls, Strong Women video contest that will provide an opportunity for girls and young women to apply become new Council members. Creation of the Girls Advisory Council and the related video contest are part of the Government of Canada’s activities celebrating International Women’s Day.

 

Girls Advisory Council

The Girls Advisory Council will engage girls 15-24 years of age on their priorities and areas of interest. The goal of the Council is to inform the ongoing work of the Government of Canada in areas such as: how to empower girls to be leaders; mentoring and championing for girls; preventing violence against young women and girls, including the harmful effects of social media (e.g. cyberviolence); and, how to use social media tools in positive ways (e.g. to promote role models and gender equality).

 

Council Membership

 

The initial members of the Girls Advisory Council are:

 

  • Helen Zhou attends Central Technical School, is President of Student Council, an active member of the Mock Trial Club, and has worked on the school yearbook and magazine for four years.
  • Rory Flynn attends Sacred Heart School of Halifax, and is a member of her school’s debate team as well as the national debate team.
  • Anjali Katta is a high school student and founder of GirlsCo and Bombay pads, which are organizations that seek to better the lives of girls in India and Canada.
  • Madilyne Kevany has for the past ten years personified the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg’s core programming values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Caring.

Strong Girls, Strong World Video Contest

Additional Advisory Council members will be selected by the Minister with the help of the current Council members. New members will be selected from among girls making submissions to the Strong Girls, Strong World video contest. MP Hayes is joining Minister Leitch in inviting girls and young women to submit videos of their own thoughts about why it’s important to celebrate the International Day of the Girl, and why they would like to join the Girls Advisory Council.

 

Guidelines for the Strong Girls, Strong World video contest can be found at www.dayofthegirl.gc.ca