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News Release

Government of Canada to fund project to engage Vancouver-area immigrant women

Vancouver, July 13, 2010 A Vancouver-area project funded by the Government of Canada will help female newcomers to Canada better understand and more fully engage in Canadian society. Today, John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, on behalf of Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced funding for Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-School Youngsters (HIPPY) Canada for their Practicing Citizenship project. .

"Giving newcomers the tools to fully participate in Canadian society is something that will serve all Canadians in the long-run," MP Weston said. "With today's announcement, we are acting to help new and established Canadians succeed together in building a strong, integrated society."

CIC's contribution helped to establish Practicing Citizenship, a project that aims to increase the participation of ethno-cultural minority women in Canadian society. Through classes on Canadian history and democracy, practical experiences in the community, mentoring and literacy training, approximately 50 female newcomers to Canada will gain the knowledge and confidence necessary to become fully engaged in the community.

"Over time, our organization has encountered many new Canadian women who felt isolated and unable to integrate," said Debbie Bell, Executive Director of HIPPY Canada. "With those women in mind, HIPPY Canada partnered with MOSAIC and the Multicultural Helping House Society to develop the Practicing Citizenship program. We welcome the government s support for this important initiative."

Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Multiculturalism Program supports projects that promote intercultural understanding and equal opportunity for people of all cultures and faiths. For more information, please visit CIC's website.

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CitImmCanada.

For further information (media only), please contact:
Celyeste Power Minister s Office Citizenship and Immigration Canada<
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca




Over one million Canadian children are at risk of NOT being prepared for kindergarten because their families struggle with conditions of poverty and low levels of literacy.

The HIPPY childhood development program addresses the diverse needs of these families to maximize the educational potential of their pre-school children.

HIPPY Canada is about helping parents learn how easy, fun and rewarding it is to teach their children at home.

It's about spending 15 minutes a day with a storybook, puzzle or learning game.

It's about children who enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

It's about improving parents' attitudes towards education and their own self-image.

It's about strengthening communities.

It's about a better Canada.


GIVING: How Each of Us Can Change the World
Bill Clinton
"I wish there were HIPPY programs in every community with a significant number of single mothers or poor, undereducated parents. Anyone who has ever been to a HIPPY graduation ceremony and seen the pride and self-confidence of both parents and children would agree. Even if you are not a parent of a preschool aged child, you can take the lead in bringing HIPPY to your home town, volunteer to be a home visitor, or support them with money or other services." (Clinton: 2007, p. 73)


Debbie Bell, executive director HIPPY Canada, Miriam Chandia, Britannia home visitor and Robin Green, Aboriginal Consortium coordinator meet Bill Clinton on November 1, 2007 in Vancouver, BC.












It is through the generosity and support of organizations and individuals that we are able to provide this valuable service to more and more families in need.

For a donation form please click here, or donate online

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

Faire un don maintenant par CanadaHelps.org!


HIPPY GREETING CARDS
Share smiles. Send happy HIPPY cards ... and help children and families.
For an order form please click here.





HIPPY Canada gratefully acknowledges our funders and donors for their generous support.









(Anonymous donor)

HIPPY Fundraiser Event

Join us for our HIPPY Canada Dinner Honouring Hershell Ezrin
When: Tuesday 29 March 2011
WHere: Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto
More information: Catherine Morrow, 416 908-4466
To Donate to the event:
To Purchase Event ticket:
Table Options

HIPPY News

HIPPY is 10 years old
and still growing. Take a look at our 10 year commemorative document to see how far we've come.
Click here for the full document.

HIPPY Canada/Thompson Rivers University - Open Learning Partnership Program for HIPPY Home Visitors
HIPPY Canada is pleased to announce that the HIPPY Home Visitor training program has been awarded 15 APST (Applied Studies) credits at the 100 level (first year college) to any HIPPY Home Visitor who satisfactorily completes the 30 week, full-time training program at the HIPPY sites that have been in existence for 3 years or more with a suitably qualified Coordinator. These credits can be used as appropriate towards an Thompson Rivers University - Open Learning credential; acceptability will vary with the choice of credential.

HIPPY Canada is happy to offer this program to the Home Visitors as a fulfillment of our promise to promote their professional and personal growth and in turn their contribution to a healthy, thriving and inclusive community.

Bond to Literacy
Many Canadian parents want to support their children’s learning, but don’t have the skills and resources to do so. The Bond to Literacy program works with other Canadian not-for-profit organizations to improve the literacy levels of geographically isolated, low-income and/or disadvantaged families and children. Staff at partner organizations are resourced and trained to help parents to instill the love of reading in their children thereby, helping prepare the children for school. Bond to Literacy is funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Practicing Citizenship
This project is a partnership between HIPPY Canada, HIPPY Britannia, Multicultural Helping House & MOSAIC, and is designed to support the participation of newcomer women in Canadian society. The project draws on all of the partners’ rich and varied experience of working with immigrant and refugee communities. The program systematically blends theory and skills for public participation with a guided opportunity to apply this knowledge to real life challenges through community based projects. Practicing Citizenship is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada


HIPPY Events in 2010

September 20-24, 2010
Pre-Service Training in Toronto

November 1-5, 2010
HIPPY Conference and AGM in Ottawa


HIPPY Canada Board

The following Officers have been elected for the 2010-2011 term:

Tim Casgrain - Chair
Ann Cowan - Treasurer
Janet Crawford - Secretary
Sheldon Ehrenworth
Henry Green
Stephen Herbert
Judith Moses - Past Chair
Carol Slater
Claire Sumerlus
Richard Stursberg
Miriam Westheimer - Ex-officio


HIPPY Canada
Charitable Tax Number


863188538 RR0001