MINDEMOYA—On Saturday, December 6 at the Mindemoya Pavilion, from 11 am to 1 pm, Noojmowin Teg’s Sexual and Domestic Violence Services (SDVS) will host the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, honouring the 14 women killed in the Polytechnique Massacre in Montreal on December 6, 1989. Saturday’s event will include drumming, an opening prayer, speakers from the staff of SDVS, a candlelight vigil and a walk in solidarity.
Local service providers and community partners have been invited to attend, including Manitoulin Family Resources, Mindemoya town council, police services, Victims Services and Mnaamodzawin Health Services.
“Vigils are held annually during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10 each year. These 16 days encourage communities to raise awareness, honour survivors, and take action to end gender-based violence. For Indigenous communities, this period also holds deep significance as we continue to address the national crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+(MMIWG2S). The vigil serves both as a moment of remembrance and as a call for action, continued safety, justice, and healing,” explained Debbie Francis, executive director of Noojmowin Teg Health Services.
A press release from the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) stated: “During the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence, the OAITH has released the Annual Femicide List 2024-2025 to educate the community about the realities of femicide. Over the last 52 weeks, there have been 43 women killed here in Ontario. There have been 101 charges reported by media, laid against 45 men accused in relation to these femicides, while another three cases were deemed a femicide-suicide.”
Marlene Ham, executive director of OAITH had this to say: “The headlines this past year continue to make public the heartbreaking stories of femicides that have occurred nearly every week in Ontario. Most of the men accused in these crimes were closest to them and most often women were killed in their home or another residence. Men’s violence against women this past year demands public attention to educate communities because we know femicide is preventable and change is possible.”
On December 6, come honour the women whose lives were lost to violence in Montreal in 1989, and those who continue to lose their lives to violence today, here in Ontario. “Come to the Mindemoya Pavillion (near the baseball fields) as we begin with an opening prayer, drumming, candlelight vigil, light snack and a walk in solidarity to honour those who have been lost or harmed,” said Ms. Francis. “This event is open to all community members who wish to show support.”
by Margery Frisch
