Dozens of people will gather at the North Shore Alliance Church Friday morning to walk in remembrance of those who have experienced and lost their lives to gender-based violence.
The North Shore Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women is holding the 7th annual Walk to Remember in honour of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
“It’s really important to have the opportunity for community members to come together to remember loved ones or people in their community that they know of who have experienced violence,” said Michelle Dodds, executive director of the North Shore Women’s Centre.
Dec. 6 marks the 35th anniversary of the tragedy at Montreal's École Polytechnique, where a man fatally shot 14 young women. The day now stands in remembrance of the murders, but also those who have experienced and lost their lives to gender-based violence.
The North Shore Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women was established in 2001, supported and administered through the North Shore Women’s Centre.
“We just want to have a broad public awareness about what Dec. 6 means and what we can do when we come together as a community,” Dodds said.
People are asked to gather at the North Shore Alliance Church parking lot where they will start the walk at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Dodds said people will head to the Stella Jo Dean Plaza in front of the North Vancouver RCMP detachment on 14th Street East.
The event will also honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Canada (MMIWG).
At 11 a.m., an hour-long ceremony will be held at the Strength and Remembrance pole near the detachment. The pole is carved in red cedar by Coast Salish artist Jody Broomfield and stands in remembrance of MMIWG.
Dodds said there will be speakers from the community as well as the laying of roses at the pole in remembrance. Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Elder Xele’milh (Doris Paul) will be leading tomorrow’s ceremony.
“It is a really powerful ceremony, so we do invite everyone to come,” Dodds said.
7th annual Walk to Remember
Where: Start at the parking lot of the North Alliance Church – 201 23rd Street East.
When: Dec. 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Admission: No RSVP required.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative. [email protected]
