Join Kim Varma and Kanwal Khokhar, authors of Guardians of the Community:The Block Parent® Program of Canada, for their book launch at the University of Toronto Bookstore. This event will include a Q&A with the authors. Your ticket includes entry to the event and a copy of the book (25% off), which you’ll receive at the event. About the Speakers Kim Varma is a professor in the Department of Criminology at Toronto Metropolitan University. Kanwal Khokhar is a federal government policy advisor, working on Indigenous inclusion at Natural Resources Canada. About the Book The Block Parent® Program of Canada was launched in 1968 following a tragic child abduction and homicide in Ontario. It rapidly expanded across the country, becoming the largest volunteer-led child safety initiative. For over fifty years, the program relied on volunteer homemakers, mostly stay-at-home mothers, who signaled their homes as safe havens for distressed children. Supported by partnerships with police, local businesses, and schools, the program provided a community-based approach to child protection. Although participation declined over the years, recent concerns about bullying, traffic safety, and child protection have sparked renewed interest in Block Parent communities. Guardians of the Community examines the social, political, technological, and cultural conditions that shifted along with the program to understand the landscape of child protection and community crime prevention over the last five decades. The book draws upon open-ended interviews with key figures who were instrumental in launching and leading the Block Parent Program, analyses of annual reports and documents from the program, and public sources including newspapers, social media, and Hansard debates to explore public and political perceptions of the program and related safety concerns. In exploring the motivations underlying involvement in child safety programs, Guardians of the Community reveals the connections between community engagement and cohesion, civic responsibility, and concerns around child protection. Guardians of the Community chronicles the inception, succession, and eventual decline of the Block Parent® Program of Canada. For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-guardians-of-the-community-by-kim-varma-and-kanwal-khokhar-tickets-1307101759549?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1

This free networking event is open to aspiring or established Indigenous women entrepreneurs and business professionals in Saskatoon & area.

Join us for an evening of connection, community, and refreshments. We are continuing to offer a space for Indigenous women entrepreneurs & business professionals to connect with each other. You'll get the opportunity to connect and create community with other Indigenous women in Saskatoon. Participants will have the opportunity to share their stories, questions, struggles and best practices in a safe and supportive environment. Entrepreneurship can feel isolating, but it doesn't have to be! This is a community that is here to support you in your business journey. Come prepared to chat about your business or business idea. This is a safe space for growth, solutioning through problems, and celebrating each other's successes.

Event Registration closes April 22nd at 1 pm.

* space is limited, register early to secure your spot! For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indigenous-women-entrepreneurs-social-gathering-saskatoon-tickets-1020851272637?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1