Sherwood Park MLA Annie McKitrick was at the Bonnyville Aboriginal Day celebrations today on behalf of Status of Women Minister Stephanie McLean to make a major announcement.
The province is funding the Lakeland Women’s Conference, to be held September 16th.
“I’m beyond excited. I won the lottery on this one,” says Community Programmer at the Bonnyville & District FCSS Diahann Polege-Aulotte. “I never thought we would get this grant at all. It’s all the Lakeland, not just Bonnyville. We’re trying to support women across the Lakeland [and encourage them] to overcome their challenges and come join us for the day, to listen to speakers and our amazing keynote we have lined up.”
That keynote speaker will be Beverley Busson, the first ever woman to be appointed as commissioner of the RCMP, a post she held from December 16th, 2006 to July 16th, 2007.
The theme of the conference is “everybody has a story.” Every attendee will be given a notebook with which they’ll be able to write their own personal story of how they got past obstacles to where they are today if they wish to. The stories will then be published.
Though just announced today, Polege-Aulotte says planning has been going on behind the scenes since March. She hopes to get a diverse group of women from all kinds of backgrounds to attend.
Registration for the event begins on June 26th, For more information, call (780)-826-2120.