On Friday evening, Nelson and other communities across the country to reflected on the occurrence of violence against women and took the opportunity to stand up against it.
A National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established by parliament to commemorate the anniversary of the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique Massacre in which 14 women were singled out for their gender and killed.
The Nelson Violence against Women in Relationships Committee (VAWIR), a committee made up of representatives from community and justice agencies organized a candlelight vigil in memory of the horrible event.
“That massacre was a grizzly and horrendous depiction of gender violence,” said Aimee Beaulieu Transition House coordinator Anna Maskerine said prior to the event. “We don’t want to forget that… It’s an opportunity for women to come together to remember that event but also to be reminded it’s happening in our community — even as we stand in the vigil that night, it’s happening to women in our community — and that’s the part that we need to keep present in the minds of community members.”
Throughout Friday, an “I Am One” display was on display on the grounds of City Hall. At 2 p.m., a video and discussion was held and at 4 p.m., members of the community, Nelson Police Chief Wayne Holland and MLA Michelle Mungall attended the vigil.
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