International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
November 25, 2024 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. From 7 PM to 8:30 PM EST we're hosting a virtual event with a panel discussion that will include Toufah Jallow, the author of Toufah. She's known as the woman who inspired the #metoo movement in Africa. The discussion will be facilitated by the journalist, Kim Pittaway.
Complete the form below to sign up! Once registered the log in details will be displayed on your screen. Make sure to save it. See you there!
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Janet Forbes’ entire career has been in the intellectual disability world, beginning as a high school summer student at the Southwest Regional Centre in southern Ontario, and the Children’s Psychiatric Centre in London. Since then she has been working for inclusion in the community for all people starting in the preschool years integrating young children into community nursery schools, then opening group homes in communities in several cities before moving to Manitoba in 1988, where she was the Executive Director of Brandon Community Options and then moved into her current role as ED of Inclusion Winnipeg in 1995.
Inclusion Winnipeg is a chapter of Inclusion Canada, a federation working in every province and territory to protect and advance human rights for people, and to support their families and communities to welcome all people to belong as a valued member of the community.
Inclusion Winnipeg is partnering with the New Society Institute (formerly IRIS) on projects related to ending gender-based violence experienced violence in communities across the country by involving the Local Safety and Inclusion in Society Networks (LSISN) approach. We have learned the importance of focusing on grassroots community-based solutions and work locally with Indigenous, racialized and disability partners.
Ms. Forbes is the current Chair of the Manitoba Adult Abuse Registry, and a member of the MB Children’s Coalition and the National Task Force on Deinstitutionalization.
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My name is Margaret (Meg). I was born in Kenya a while ago. I came into therapy naturally; growing up in a family that had difficult relations, I always wondered why my family was different from others.
That’s where the questions (curiosity) started. I learnt to observe and listen, coming into my own in the university of Nairobi where I was a kind of receiving bucket for my friends. This was a time when everyone was free to explore and experiment for the first time, which, not surprisingly, brought a lot of complications and heartbreak. Due to my upbringing, (religious) I did not get into nearly as much stuff as everyone around me. Instead, I listened and walked alongside them to untangle these things. It kind of became my identity. I enjoyed helping and found myself learning a lot.
Later, while going through my own difficult family stuff, being supported by a counsellor made all the difference. I knew then that this was something I wanted to do. When I migrated to Canada 17 years ago, I finally had a chance to get professional training in the Masters Program of Marriage and Family Therapists (MMFT) from the University of Winnipeg, MB. For over 8 years now I have been practicing as an Individual, Couple and Family Therapist at Aurora Family Therapy Centre out of the University of Winnipeg working primarily with clients with refuges backgrounds. These are people who have had to flee their home country, and the work is centered around trauma resolution and beginnings. I also have my own private practice, where I see clients from all walks of life, as well as work as a Contract Therapist with the Government of MB ( Homicide /Bereavement Clients).
I help people find the light in their problem saturated stories and use that to make meaningful change that help them live their best lives.
I am a proud mom and grandma (3 beautiful little poppets). I love the sky and spend many a night driving out of the city to stargaze. I love the outdoors-spending a lot of time camping, walking, taking pictures. I love music and books as well listening to podcasts and documentaries on ancient history.
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Leslie Kirkness was born and raised in Opaskwayak Cree Nation. As a youth Leslie moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba where he currently resides. He has an educational background in international development and is passionate about sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. He worked for many years in the field of social work and is now in the NGO sector. Leslie is currently pursuing his Master’s in Development Practices: Indigenous Development program at the University of Winnipeg and is on staff at the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation as a sustainability and inclusion specialist. He loves the work of engaging Manitobans in the Sustainable Development Goals and other activities that lead to a just world.
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Molly Vanderwater (she/they) is the Vice President of the University of Winnipeg Student Association, and a proud advocate for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. She is currently studying creative writing at the University of Winnipeg, and plans to create unique queer literature that is as informed as it is compelling and entertaining. They wish to elevate 2SLGBTQ+ voices and to push for greater understanding of queer identities and of mental health and wellness across Canada.
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Kim Pittaway is a Cohort Director in the MFA in Creative Nonfiction program at the University of King's College. She is the former editor-in-chief of Chatelaine Magazine, a long-time magazine writer and editor, and the co-author with Toufah Jallow of Toufah: The Woman Who Inspired and African #MeToo Movement (2022, Random House Canada) and with Samra Zafar of the forthcoming Unconditional: Break Through Past Limits to Transform Your Future (HarperCollins Canada, 2025).