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OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 03/08/13 -- The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, along with the Honourable Kerri-Lynne D. Findlay, Q.C., Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Delta - Richmond East, today spoke with women in defence and security at the 2013 Memorial Scholarship Award Breakfast. Coinciding with International Women's Day, these annual awards are presented to encourage women to pursue careers related to the national defence and security interests of Canada. Both Ministers spoke about the contributions of women in defence and congratulated this year's award recipients, Francesca Ferguson and Heidi Dewald.

Minister MacKay has been an avid supporter of annual Women in Defence and Security events having participated in two previous events. Minister Findlay's participation in this breakfast demonstrates her important role in representing women in the defence community.

"Canada has every reason to be proud of its leading role on the international stage in issues of gender equality, and of the countless achievements of Canadian women who have paved the way for future generations here at home. There are no limits to career opportunities for women in Canada's defence community," said Minister MacKay.

"I am extremely proud of the leadership role the Canadian Armed Forces have taken in the area of military gender integration, both in terms of the proportion of women in the military - roughly 15 per cent of personnel are women - and the wide ranging areas in which they serve," said Minister Findlay. "Today, we honour those women who are standing on guard for Canada and thank them for their courage and determination."

From 1885 when women first served as nurses to 2011 when Commodore Jennifer Bennet became the first woman to reach the rank of Rear-Admiral and was appointed Chief Reserves and Cadets, women have played an integral role in the functioning of our Canadian Armed Forces

For more information, please visit:

Women in Defence and Security: http://www.wids.ca/

DND/CF Backgrounder: Women in the Canadian Armed Forces http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?cat=03&id=3578

DND/CF Fact Sheet: Women in the Canadian Forces http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?cat=18&id=3675



Contacts:
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
www.forces.gc.ca