Despite the frosty weather Saturday evening, people of all ages came out for a candlelight vigil in honour of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in front of the Fort Frances Courthouse.
And organizers are hoping to keep the tradition alive here to emphasize the importance of the issue.
“I was very happy with the response,” said Peggy Loyie, Aboriginal Healing and Wellness co-ordinator with the United Native Friendship Centre here.
“We had upwards of 50 people out. And to me, that means that that many are getting the message,” Loyie added. “The interest, the validation was there.
“We want to start planning ahead and do something again next year, and hopefully, each year after that.”
The other co-organizers—Christine Hampton of Riverside Community Counselling and Tannis Fretter of the Northwestern Health Unit—agreed the candlelight vigil was a success, and would like to see it happen again.
“Given the short notice, the weather, and the nature of the event, I’d say the response was very positive,” said Fretter. “Hopefully, we can continue and build on it.”
Hampton said the event is important, as violence against women is an ongoing issue in the community.
Loyie noted next time, the observance might not be in the form of a candlelight vigil, but perhaps a play or concert associated with the serious message.
She added it’s been too long that Fort Frances has not had an event to honour the day, which coincides with the anniversary of the deaths of 14 young women who were killed Dec. 6, 1989 at l’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal because of their gender.
“The incident in Montreal was a long time ago, but the issue is still far too familiar for some people in this area,” Loyie remarked.
Saturday’s vigil, which also included reps from Friends Against Abuse and the Sunrise Center Against Assault/Abuse in International Falls, Mn., took place from 5-5:20 p.m. It was cut a little short because of cold.
Refreshments were served afterwards at the UNFC.
The names of these 14 murdered women were read out during the vigil. They were Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, and Annie Turcotte.
Beyond commemorating the loss of these 14 young lives, some gathered to remember the women and children from this area who have died as a result of violence.
Those named included Melani Sutton, Deanna Daw, and Katrina Whitecrow.
The focus on violence against women is not meant to diminish the seriousness of violence against men, said Loyie.
However, she noted violence against women—particularly intimate partner violence and sexual assaults—represents a unique aspect of the wider social problem of violence, and requires specific attention and solutions.
Women represent the vast majority of sexual assault victims, and spousal assault experienced by women tends to be more severe overall, more frequent, and causes more serious physical injury and psychological harm.
The event was organized by the UNFC, Northwestern Health Unit, and Riverside Community Counselling in co-operation with Friends Against Abuse and Sunset Center Against Assault/Abuse.
It was funded through the Rainy River Family Violence Network.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
