In 1986, a number of meetings were held by concerned local immigrant women to examine the needs of immigrant women. This resulted in a funding application to Canada Employment Centre (CEC) to carry out a feasibility study to set up a training program for immigrant and visible minority women.
In 1987, a feasibility study was conducted with manager Mary Ann Scott, and two researchers, Pushpa Seeraratnam and Lisa Harnelt, working for six months out of the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA under the guidance of a Board of Directors. A proposal was developed to set up a sewing skills training program with English language and life skills components. This training program, Skills Unlimited (SU), began operations at 33 Bridgeport Road East in Waterloo in March 1998. Funding was provided by CEC for a Severely Employment Disadvantaged (SED) project under the Canadian Job Strategy.
Focus for Ethnic Women was incorporated as a charitable organization in July 1987.
Since 1988, Focus for Ethnic Women has received funding for various projects from:
Secretary of State
Ontario Women’s Directorate
Ontario Women’s Directorate in collaboration with the Victorian Order of Nurses
Canada Employment Centre (CEC)
Jobs Ontario
United Way
K-W Community Foundation
Community Opportunities Development Association
Status of Women Canada
Ministry of Education and Training
Motz Foundation
Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
Ontario Trillium Foundation
First Echo
Canadian Women’s Foundation
Region of Waterloo
Zonta Club
Founding Members
Ari Ariatnam
Preet Ahuja
Shanta Dubey
Ulke Khare
Gayle Misra
Jassy Narayan
Shobhana Ranjit
Pushpa Seevaratnam
Antonieta Soares
Inaugural Board of Directors (1987-1988)
Ari Ariatnam – President
Shobhana Ranjit – Secretary
Ulke Khare – Treasurer
Preet Ahuja
Yvette Craan
Vyaya Niranjan
Shanta Ragade
Shanta Dubey
Margaret Skrownska-Binek
Carolyn Brown
Maragret Hennig
Antonieta Soares
Anita Kesavan-Srinevsan