PACSW Celebrates the Completion of the
Aboriginal Women on the Move Cross Canada Cycle Tour

For immediate release – August 9, 2006

On Friday, August 11, the Advisory Council will host a reception for three extraordinary women who are completing a 7200 km cross-Canada tour from Vancouver, BC to St. John’s, NL.

Sheila Swasson, Chi Metallic-Larocque and Donna Martin-Metallic are Mi’gmaq first nation and mothers. They have cycled across Canada to raise awareness and bring attention to family violence in Aboriginal communities and violence against Aboriginal women.

The cycle tour will officially end at the Mile Zero marker in downtown St. John’s on Friday afternoon. A reception with representatives of women’s and Aboriginal communities will follow at the Advisory Council office on 131 LeMarchant Road from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM.  All members of the media are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

According to Advisory Council President, Leslie MacLeod, “The Advisory Council is delighted to welcome these women to St. John’s and to celebrate the completion of their long journey to raise awareness of violence against Aboriginal women. Unfortunately, many Aboriginal women in our province and country live in violent and abusive situations, and are still five times more vulnerable to death due to violence than non-Aboriginal women. We deeply respect the work Chi, Donna and Sheila have done to raise awareness about the staggering amount of violence present in the lives of women and are pleased to host a reception in their honour.”

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Media Contact:

Leslie MacLeod
President/CEO| 753-6124 | 753-7270 | lesliemacleod@pacsw.ca
Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women Newfoundland & Labrador