In celebration of her 70th birthday, and in support of the new Jean Augustine Chair in Education in the New Urban Environment, the Jean Augustine Birthday Brunch fundraiser has been announced for Sunday, September 9th, 2007, at 1:30pm.

Held at the La Vita Banquet and Conference Centre (4000 Steeles Ave. W), the brunch aims to raise funds for the Chair in Education in the New Urban Environment, and honours Jean Augustine's dedication to education, public service, and her community.

Augustine continues a lifetime's efforts of supporting excellence in education by helping to create the Chair in Education in the New Urban Environment.

With experience working as a teacher and principal before her groundbreaking political career, Augustine has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and issues facing educators in the urban environment. In recognition of the struggles she faced as a single mother, while working as a teacher and pursuing a Masters of Education, Augustine sponsors the Jean Augustine Scholarship for Single Mothers through George Brown College.

While Augustine is best known in many circles as Canada's first African Canadian woman Member of Parliament, her political career extends far beyond the 12 years spent as the Member for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Augustine gathered cross-party parliamentary support for the designation of February as Black History Month in Canada, and persevered in placing the motion to erect a statue of the Famous Five on Parliament Hill, commemorating the Persons Case for women's equality. These accomplishments helped to build a reputation of commitment to equality.

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The academic Chair in the New Urban Environment is built on the foundation of Augustine's exemplary history of education and public service, York University's Urban Diversity Initiative, and the archival and other Parliamentary Materials donated by Jean Augustine. The Chair is dedicated to supporting Canada's next generation of teachers, educational leaders, and researchers.

By addressing issues such as educational policy and practice, immigration, community engagement and cultural diversity, the Chair is intended to face the issues and complexities of our increasingly urbanized world.

Jean Augustine, Canada's first African Canadian woman MP, has also served as Minister of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada as well as serving as a member of 38 other Parliamentary Groups focusing on countries all over the world. She is presently Ontario's first Fairness Commissioner. In addition to recognition such as the YWCA woman of Distinction Award, the Kaye Livingstone Award, the Ontario Volunteer Award, and the Rubena Willis Special Recognition Award, she has attained her Masters in Education, and an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto.

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Available for interviews, Jean Augustine

For Ticket sales,
call 416-691-9406 or visit www.jeanaugustinebirthdaybrunch.com