R.E.S.P.E.C.T. program in North Bay celebrated for excellence

Guelph, Ontario - October 22, 2004 - RESPECT yourself - that's the message that a unique abuse prevention program hopes to convey to women and girls living in remote Ontario communities - a move that has earned the project an award.

The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. project is the winner of the Excellence in Community Leadership award. It is one of seven projects that received recognition for its innovative work at the 6th Annual Awards of Rural Excellence on Oct. 18, 2004. Hosted by the Foundation for Rural Living (FRL), the awards recognize and honour rural communities, organizations and groups who, through programs, projects and initiatives act on their vision of a better rural Ontario.

The ultimate goal of the project is to build and strengthen rural and remote communities in the North Bay region and give a voice to the more vulnerable members of the community, explained Project Co-ordinator Roberta Oshkawbewisens.

"We know that women and girls may be vulnerable to violence, particularly if we are aboriginal females, or if we have a developmental disability." The vision of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. is to provide - Resources, Education, Safety, Prevention, Empowerment, Community-building and Training - to these vulnerable members of the community.

By forming partnerships with other social agencies, RESPECT has been able to offer a variety of unique programs. These include information sessions around violence and prevention for both boys and girls as well as education for rural practitioners. RESPECT also runs outdoor camping retreats for women and girls.

Beginning in the spring of 2002 with the help of a few agencies, the project has continued to grow and now enjoys the support of more than 20 project partners.

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For more information:
Contact Donnalee Iffla, Executive Director of Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing
Tel: 705 840 2403

The winners in the remaining six categories are:

• Winner Outstanding Partnership with Business: Frontier College's Labourer Teacher Program, Toronto
  
• Winner Outstanding Rural Youth Achievement: Community Futures of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin's Business Builders, Bancroft
  
• Winner Excellence in Formal Co-operative Models: The Progressive Pork Producers Co-operative, Breslau
  
• Winner Excellence in Economic Development: Trent Hills Economic Development Committee, Municipality of Trent Hills
  
• Winner Outstanding Philanthropic Action: The Bruce Grey Public Education Foundation, Oliphant
  
• Winner Volunteerism and/or Partnership in the Voluntary Sector: Erinsville Recyclers Group, Tamworth

Proud sponsors of the 2004 Awards of Rural Excellence program are Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Company and founding sponsor, The Co-operators, the Province of Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Union Gas and The Ontario Rural Council.

The awards were held at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in London, Ontario on Oct. 18, 2004.

For more information please contact
Joanne Peach, communications specialist
Foundation for Rural Living
Tel: 519 826 3815
Email: frl_communications@on.aibn.com

Background: The Awards of Rural Excellence
The Foundation for Rural Living's (FRL) Awards of Rural Excellence program began in 1999 to recognize the excellence emerging from rural Ontario and to promote those initiatives to other organizations throughout the province. Contribution to community and a view toward enhancing and sustaining the future are the cornerstones of the awards criteria. Enterprises being recognized with each award must take place in rural Ontario. "Rural" includes communities with a population under 50,000. Amalgamated municipalities of small towns where the population may exceed 50,000 are also eligible. Proud sponsors of the 2004 Awards of Rural Excellence program are Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Company and founding sponsor, The Co-operators, the Province of Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Union Gas and The Ontario Rural Council.

The Foundation for Rural Living
FRL was founded in 1979 as a non-profit, registered charity. Our mission is to build sustainable rural capacity and enhance the quality of life for rural citizens through the growth and development of community investment in the form of philanthropy, citizenship and collaboration. Various programs and partnership endeavours aim to advance the role and interests of the charitable sector for the benefit of rural communities.

The foundation has initiated and partnered in key programs including The Ontario Rural Council and the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program. During the ice storm of 1998 we established the Ontario Rural Relief Fund, which raised over $500,000 for rural communities affected by this disaster.

Disclaimer: The Foundation for Rural Living does not endorse or maintain the information contained within the above article, with the exception of news releases from the foundation itself. In all other instances, any questions reagarding the information contained therein should be referred to the author of the news article listed as the source.