Experts working to combat violence against women in Canada will visit Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities from February 18-28 as participants in an International Visitors’ Leadership Program (IVLP) looking at best practices in the preventing and dealing domestic violence. The program is organized by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
The goal of the program is program is to introduce Canadian participants to their American counterparts and show them innovative and successful approaches to prevent and raise awareness of violence against women. The program will include meetings with groups that work particularly with Native American and immigrant populations.
Participants in this program are:
- Isabelle Paille, Non-Violence and native Shelters, Quebec Native Womens Inc. (Montreal)
- Lise Martin, Executive Director, Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses (Ottawa)
- Jane Ursel, Professor of Sociology, University of Manitoba; Director, RESOLVE (Winnipeg)
- Jas Gill, Director, Justice Services, John Howard Society of the Lower Mainland of B.C. (Vancouver)
- Mary-Ellen Martin, Victim Service Coordinator, Saint John Police Force (Saint John)
- Caithlin Scarpellie, Director Development, Communication, and Fundraising, Atira Women’s Resource Society (Vancouver)
- Diane Lynne Redsky, Executive Director, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Inc.Strategy (Winnipeg)
- Roberta Carol Wesley, Community Legal Worker, Legal Aid Ontario (Northern Ontario/Toronto)
The IVLP enables Canadians who are emerging leaders in their professional field to observe U.S. institutions and culture first-hand, and to meet with professional counterparts to explore issues of common interest. Through this program approximately 40 Canadians a year benefit from three-week study tours, as guests of the United States. Founded in 1940, the IVLP has given hundreds of thousands of emerging leaders — including hundreds of Canadians — the opportunity to observe and interact with American culture and society on a personal level. For more information, visit eca.state.gov/ivlp.
Participants are available for interviews before and after the program upon request.
Media Contact
Jennifer Young
Senior Media Specialist
U.S. Embassy Ottawa
Tel: 613-688-5315
Email: youngjm1@state.gov
