December 6th, Canada’s Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, marks 30
years since the massacre of 14 women at Montreal’s L’École Polytechnique.
Everyone is invited to attend a December 6th Vigil from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Calvary Church in Yellowknife by the Status of Women Council of the NWT.
The purpose of the vigil is to amplify a diversity of voices taking action to address violence against women and girls.
“The federal government is asking everyone to observe a minute of silence at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 6th to remember the 14 women that were killed in the Montreal massacre,” Louise Elder from the Status of Women Council of the NWT said. “We host the December 6th vigil on an annual basis. And it is an opportunity to create awareness about gender-based violence, about the Montreal massacre and to encourage people to reflect upon that and think about how they can be part of the change.”
Elder says at the Vigil they will lite 14 candles in memory of the 14 women who were murdered at Montreal’s L’École Polytechnique.
“This Vigil is an opportunity to bring people together to remember these women,” Elder said. “And remember all the women we have lost to gender-based violence. Our mandate is to advance the equality of women in the Territory”
Elder says they will also lite a 15th candle in memory of murdered and missing indigenous women. Events of remembrance will take place across the NWT and the rest of Canada.
Supporters will also gather at the Women’s Monument in Vancouver, Canada for a special ceremony.
“The Women’s Monument was created as a permanent reminder of the murder of women and girls around the
world,” Chris McDowell, of the Women’s Monument Committee said. “There is so much denial of violence against women and girls. The denial has to stop. We need to face the truth and act on it.”
After the ceremony, a wide range of organizations and individuals will give media interviews about violence against
women and girls, the conditions in our society that allow the violence to continue and what these social change
agents are doing to make the world a better place, McDowell added.
“Battered Women’s Support Services commemorated 40 years of service this year. Twenty-five staff and 160
volunteers provide women with emotional support, safety planning, and access to a huge diversity of resources built
over decades,” Angela Marie MacDougall, Director, BWSS in Vancouver said. “The need for our services is only increasing. December 6th is a time to remember, to take action and to continue to find ways to bring people together to end violence against women.”
“We believe that violence against women is increasing, and we also believe that the actions we take to stop the
violence are slowing it down and saving lives and sanity.” the Women’s Monument Committee in Vancouver said. “We urgently need everyone to take action.”
The Status of Women Council of the NWT will hold there Vigil from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Calvary Church in Yellowknife.
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