Federal money flowing to 10 Sask. women’s organizations

The federal government is trying to let women’s organizations in Saskatchewan just focus on their work with $3.7 million in grants for capacity-building.

The grants to help organizations cover behind-the-scenes costs were announced Friday morning in Regina.

Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen is the CEO of the Regina YWCA, which is one of the 10 recipients in Saskatchewan of the federal money. She said the call for applications on capacity-building was very different.

“This is a very unique call for proposals, and it was a very unique request. What it means is that our work and what we’re doing is validated in terms of its importance and will give us some ability to invest in our organizations so that we can continue to do that work that we’re doing every day on the front line,” said Coomber-Bendtsen.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale was on hand for the announcement. He explained that making money available for capacity-building means it will provide predictable and sustainable resources for the organizations, giving them a firmer base from which to work.

“This will relieve pressures on the infrastructure and basic capacity side of the equation, and so the organizations and the talented people that they attract and they work with can focus on meeting the needs of the community rather than the administrative side of it,” said Goodale.

The Regina YWCA will use its money to provide better supports for its workers who help clients deal with trauma, and also to hire a development officer. The officer will create a plan for fundraising for the YWCA’s new centre for women and families.

“We have to have the ability to provide the best case forward in order to raise important dollars to help us do our work and avoid crisis for women and families in our city,” said Coomber-Bendtsen.

Coomber-Bendtsen said the group is hoping to eventually raise about $5 million from the community, with other money potentially coming from the provincial and federal governments.

Leadership for Indigenous women

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is another of the groups awarded money in the grant. It’s getting about $600,000, according to Vice-Chief Heather Bear, and it will be used for leadership programming for Indigenous women.

“It’s money that is going to be well-spent and, of course, cover the whole entire province,” she said, “so I’m very, very excited about Canada’s investment.”

Bear said strengthening women will make communities better, safer and happier. She said women have always had integral roles in First Nations communities but they’ve lost some of that.

“I think the revitalization and bringing that back — the good ways of our people back — to the society is really going to affect change, not only with the women but with the men as well,” explained Bear.

Ten organizations across the province were awarded money in this grant. They are:

— Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan;

— Family Service Saskatoon;

— Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations;

— Prince Albert Metis Women’s Association;

— Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre;

— Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre;

— Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan;

— STOPS to Violence;

— YWCA Regina; and,

— YWCA Prince Albert.