NEWS RELEASE
GREEN HAVEN SHELTER FOR WOMEN
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This year marks the 35th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre, a tragic event that claimed the lives of 14 women simply because they were women.
To honour their memory and raise awareness about the ongoing epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV), Green Haven Shelter for Women, in partnership with Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka, Dress for Success Orillia and Barrie, and CFUW Orillia, invites the community to a candlelight vigil.
Event details:
- Date: Friday, Dec. 6, 2024
- Time: Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; vigil begins at 5 p.m.
- Location: St. Paul’s Centre, Orillia
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is a sombre reminder of the lives lost to gender-based violence. On this day in 1989, 14 women were murdered in an act of targeted misogyny at École Polytechnique in Montreal.
While we reflect on this tragedy, we must also confront the harsh reality: Gender-based violence continues to impact countless lives across Canada. According to Statistics Canada, women account for 78 per cent of all reported intimate partner violence cases, and economic abuse is a pervasive yet underreported form of GBV. For Indigenous women, the risk of experiencing violence is even greater — 12 times higher than for non-Indigenous women, as highlighted in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The vigil serves as more than a moment of remembrance. It is a call to action to challenge the systemic factors that perpetuate GBV, advocate for change, and support survivors in our communities.
This event is a collaborative effort by local organizations dedicated to uplifting women and addressing the root causes of gender-based violence:
- Green Haven Shelter for Women: providing safety, support, and resources to women and children escaping violence.
- CFUW Orillia: advancing the status of women and girls through education and advocacy.
- Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka: advocating for marginalized women and addressing systemic barriers.
- Dress for Success Orillia and Barrie: empowering women with tools for economic independence.
We invite all community members to join this vigil, and renew our commitment to creating a world free from violence and inequality. Together, we can honour the past and build a safer future for all women.
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