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Shuswap invited to stand united against violence against women

Annual event on Dec. 6 particularly poignant in view of missing Shuswap women
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A minute of silence is observed during last year’s candlelight vigil at United Against Violence Against Women. The event is sponsored by the SAFE Society, Okanagan College Students’ Union and Okanagan College Aboriginal Services. While it originated out of the horrific murder of women at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique, it also recognizes the missing and murdered women who have disappeared in B.C.

On Dec. 6, 1989, 25-year-old Marc Lépine entered Montreal’s École Polytechnique where he shot and killed 14 women before taking his own life.

In his suicide note, Lépine said he was “fighting feminism,” actions that resulted in the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history.

The anniversary of the massacre has since been commemorated as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

In Salmon Arm, the SAFE Society the Okanagan College Student Union, and Okanagan College Aboriginal Services invite the community to attend “United Against Violence Against Women.”

This local, commemorative event was expanded to include the Murdered and Missing Women – Aboriginal and All ethnicities.

Related: Standing together against violence towards women

Widely attended by local Aboriginal band members, Métis, city council members, students and others, this true blending of people includes documentary films, food and beverages and candles.

“About 10 years ago, the bands and Métis did not feel welcome,” says Caroline Chartier, a staff member of the college’s Aboriginal Services, who provides food for the event. “I consider myself extremely lucky to be involved.”

And the need to keep the issues around violence against women in the public eye is great.

“My program always has a long waitlist,” says Kathy McIntyre-Paul, a counsellor with the SAFE Society’s Stopping the Violence program that is funded by the Ministry of Justice – Victim Service and Crime Prevention and works with women who have experienced violence in relationships, childhood abuse or sexual assault, to help them deal with the trauma of the experience.

There are 30 people on a waiting list at any given time, she says, noting all the SAFE Society programs have long waiting lists.

“Certainly we know sexual assaults are highly under-reported,” she says.

She noted there was an upsurge in women seeking counselling as five area women began to go missing and one woman’s remains were found at a Silver Creek farm.

“There have been women who have been affected and, at the time, there were women who were distressed by what was happening in Silver Creek.”

Police units back in Silver Creek

“This event came on my desk about 10 years ago and it seemed right to partner with the college,” she says of the Dec. 6 remembrance and vigil. “Caroline made herself known to me and she has been involved ever since. She is very passionate about it and does a lot to make it happen, including being the liaison with the aboriginal bands.”

The United Against Violence Against Women event starts at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Salmon Arm campus, with a yet-to-be-announced documentary, followed by Highway of Tears at 5 p.m. The Candlelight Vigil begins at 6:15. Everyone is invited and light refreshments will be served.

Warm clothing and outdoor attire is recommended for the outdoor part of the memorial.


@SalmonArm
barb.brouwer@saobserver.net

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