KITCHENER – A three-day provincially-funded conference is bringing together 850 police, health care and community workers to help end violence against women.

“We all have a responsibility to end violence against women,” said Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues Deb Matthews. “No one organization, no single government, no particular sector can end domestic violence. We must work together to address the causes, identify at-risk women early and give them the appropriate supports and referrals.”

The conference – which opened in Kitchener today – is Ontario’s second provincial conference on violence against women. The first in 2005 helped lead to the creation of Kitchener-Waterloo’s Family Violence Project, the host of this year’s conference.

The conference in Kitchener is focusing on the causes of domestic violence, identifying the signs of abuse and providing better services to victims. Workshops will help front-line workers from a variety of agencies and organizations learn about leading-edge approaches and opportunities to work together to end violence against women.

Keynote speakers include:

• Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada
• Irshad Manji, feminist, activist, journalist and author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith
• Brian Vallée, author of Life With Billly and The War on Women
• Dr. Linda Chamberlain, health scientist specializing in childhood exposure to violence

“This conference is building a community network across our province,” said Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues Leeanna Pendergast.  “It reflects our shared determination to eliminate violence against women.”

In addition to this conference, the McGuinty government has helped to prevent violence against women and children by:

• Providing more than $190 million annually to violence against women services including a four-year $82 million Domestic Violence Action Plan that provides community-based supports, public education and training, better access to French-language services and strengthens Ontario’s criminal and family justice systems
• Funding $5.9 million over four years for training, research and conferences to assist professionals in recognizing the signs of domestic violence and providing appropriate supports and referrals
• Investing in the Neighbours, Friends and Families public education campaign, which provides information to help individuals recognize the signs of abuse and know what action to take.

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Contacts:
Stephanie Kupiec, Minister’s Office, (416) 212-3394
Michel Payen-Dumont, Communications Branch, (416) 314-7010