`National Women's March Against Poverty`

`" For Bread and Roses. For Jobs and Justice!"`

Put up Bread and Roses to Support the National Women's March

What is the Women's March_

The National Women's March Against Poverty is a strategy initiated by the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) to raise awareness about the impact of federal government cuts on women's lives in Canada. We are marching for jobs and justice. From British Columbia, several caravans of women will be making their way through the province and on May 14th 1996, the March will be officially launched in Vancouver. The B.C. caravans will meet up and travel across the country, with more women joining along the way. An Eastern caravan is schedules to begin in St. John, New Brunswick and St. John's Newfoundland simultaneously. The caravans will arrive together in Ottawa on June 15th for the NAC Annual General Meeting.

Although no one will actually be marching or walking to Ottawa, the name, as well as the general structure of the event, builds on the success of the Quebec Women's March Against Poverty helid in May 1995. Quebec women made nine demands of the Parizeau government and promises for action were given on almost all, including promises to impliment a new pay equity law, create 1,200 new units of low-cost housing, and change immigrant sponsorship policy so that all immigrant women would be entitled to social services. the bread and roses theme, also used in the Quebec March, insists that women must have their material as well as spiritual and moral needs met.

Why do we need it_

The March Against Poverty is necessary at this time because women across Canada are living with the impact of funding cuts and the dismantling of our social safety net. This right-wing agenda isa producing more poverty, more racism, and increasing women's vulnerability to economic and physical violence. The March is an opportunity for women to show the depth of our anger and the strength of our collective resolve to fight for social and economic justice.

How can you participate_

As the date for the March Against Poverty draws closer, women across B.C. have been organizing in their areas to form coalitions, establish caravan routes, arrange accomodation for travelers, plan events, contact the media and mobilize and inform as many women as possible about the March, and about the diverse issues of women and poverty. The following are some ways in which you can get involved:

Organize an event with women and girls to highlight the issues of women and poverty in your area. It could coincide with the caravan arrival in your community, with the launch of the March in Vancouver on May 14th, or with the arrival of the caravans in Ottawa on June 15th. Events might include rallies, street theatre, speakers, discussion groups, etc.
Publicize existing information about issues of women and poverty and about Women's March events. Encourage as many people as possible to attend the events.
Send your issues! Write a letter, organize a petition, or design a banner in support of the demands being made by NAC-CLC and AWAN (the Aboriginal Women's Action Network), and ask supportive organizations in your area to sign them. These can accompany the Women's March caravan to Ottawa or be mailed directly to the federal government.
Encourage your local print, television and radio media to cover Women's March events and publicize the demands.
Meet up with the Women's March by sending your own delegation to join the caravan for a day, or longer!

Contact your regional representative to find out what is being organized in your are, and how you can help.

Fund-Raising

In order for the issues of the March to reach as many people as possible, and in order for women with low or no income to be able to go on a cross-country caravan to share expenses and voice concerns, financial support is essential. There are various ways in which both organizations and individuals can help to raise the necessary funds.

Help to sell Women's March T-shirts ($15/ea.) and buttons ($2/ea.) through your organizations, union locals, and friends. These are available from your regional representative, and the proceeds go to help fund the March in your area.
Ask around to supportive organizations and individuals for both cash and in-kind donations to support the gas, food, and accomodation costs of the caravan. At minimum, gas only will cost approximately $500 per vehicle to drive the route from B.C. to Ottawa and back.
Offer shelter, food, camping equipment or other traveling basics to Women's March participants as they start off from, or visit, your community.
Begin a pledge sheet to sponsor a vehicle a certain distance along the March route (e.g. a $10 pledge will get a car from location A to B, $25 from A to C, $100 from A to D, etc...). Circulate the pledge sheet at meetings, gatherings, and rallies, and send it to individuals and organizations that can afford to contribute.

Contact your regional representative to determine what kind of support is most needed in your community.

Caravan Route

Northern Caravan:

May 13th: Prince Rupert, Terrace, Burns Lake (night)
May 14th: Prince George, Quesnel (night)
May 15th: William's Lake, 100 Mile House, Kamloops (night)

Southern Caravan:

May 11th: Victoria, Duncan and Campbell River, Courtenay, Port Alberni to meet in Nanaimo (night)
May 12th: Vancouver (night)
May 13th: Vancouver (night)
May 14th: Abbotsford (night)
May 11th: Kamloops (night)

Northern and Southern Caravan Meet in Kamloops:

May 16th: Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton (night)
May 17th: Castlegar, Trail, Nelson (night)
May 18th: Cranbrook, Golden (night)
May 19th: Rest May 20th: Calgary (night)

Outside B.C.

Nova Scotia Information

May 24th: Last day in Alberta
May 28th: Last day in Saskatchewan
May 29th: Winnipeg
June 2nd: Thunder Bay
June 8th: Toronto
June 11th: London
June 15th: Ottawa

Check with your regional representative to establish the time and place of the rally or event scheduled in your area

More Info

Why some women and organizations in British Columbia are participating in the March
B.C. Women's March Events
Reports from Winnipeg The Bread and Roses Song
Show Your Support for the National Women's March Agianst Poverty on the Supporting Wall

Although the National Women's March Aganst Poverty will take place during one month, its organization can provide an opportunity to discuss on-going issues of social and economic justice that affect women's daily lives. Come meet and talk with women across B.C. who are organizing against right-wing government and cuts to social funding in their communities. The NAC Spring Regional Conference will be held on April 26th-28th at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, 800 East Broadway in Vancouver. Please register before April 19th.