To bring awareness to what it deems an "epidemic," Huronia Transition Homes is hosting a community walk on Monday to highlight the ongoing uptick in domestic violence.
“Femicide is the ultimate act of violence against women,” said Haily MacDonald, the organization’s executive director.
“We must mobilize, we cannot accept these tremendous rates of violence against women any longer. Women are not disposable.”
At 4 p.m., residents are invited to come together to march against that kind of violence and to mourn Julia Brady, who was recently murdered at a Seventh Street residence.
“We recognize this death as both a tragic incident, but also evidence of an epidemic of violence against women,” MacDonald said.
“The loss of a woman in our community reminds us of the importance of advocating for change and a world free from violence for all people.”
Brady's boyfriend Justus Chester has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to her death. The charge has not been proven in court.
According to Huronia Transition Homes, rates of violence against women and intimate-partner violence are soaring in Ontario and across Canada with the organization noting that Brady’s death shows North Simcoe is not immune from this kind of violence.
So far this year, the number of women murdered by their partner in Ontario sits at 35. If Brady’s death turns out to be a similar incident, the number would sit at 36.
Across Canada, many park benches have been painted purple to honour and raise awareness for women who have lost their lives due to intimate-partner violence.
The organization said it’s working with the town to paint a bench purple near Midland’s lakefront to honour Brady and highlight the town’s “commitment to ending violence against women.”
Monday’s community walk will begin at Neezhoday Park (near the library) and end at David Onley Park (where the anticipated purple bench will be located).
Representatives from Huronia Transition Homes and La Maison Rosewood, the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre and the town are expected to speak at the event.
Huronia Transition Homes has been in operation since 1984 in North Simcoe and has a 24/7 county-wide crisis line where community members can access critical support and resources (In north Simcoe: (800) 461- 1750 and in south Simcoe: (800) 987-0799).
