Last week BPW Selkirk once again hosted its annual Community Vigil Walk. This walk takes place annually in honour of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Residents walked from the Selkirk Friendship Centre with candles to the Selkirk Civic Office where a presentation took place.
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women takes place on Dec. 6. It takes place this day in remembrance of the 14 young women at École Polytechnique in Montréal who were murdered over 30 years ago in an act of violent misogyny.
The presentation opened with a welcome from Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson.
“These walks should be in every town, in every city. We can never forget. We have to do these walks. We have to tell other people. They have to look [the École Polytechnique tragedy] up to see what it was about and to understand it and to remember,” he said.
Colleen Allan, BPW Selkirk, then introduced Minister responsible for Gender Equity Nahanni Fontaine who spoke about how it wasn’t actually that long ago that the École Polytechnique tragedy took place.
“[Folks] should be researching it because it is a part of our history. It’s a part of Canadian history, in which 14 women, young women, pursuing their goals of education, trying to live their best life and having opportunities were preyed on, stalked, and slaughtered. I know that a lot of people get a little bit nervous with the language that I use, but violence against women deserves language that really highlights and showcases what we are up against as women,” she said.
Allan came back to introduce local Community Policing Officer Cst. Paul Human.
Human read out all 14 names of the women killed in the École Polytechnique tragedy because he wanted residents to really think about them, how they were individuals and how they are no longer here.
- Geneviève Bergeron
- Hélène Colgan
- Nathalie Croteau
- Barbara Daigneault
- Anne-Marie Edward
- Maud Haviernick
- Maryse Laganière
- Maryse Leclair
- Anne-Marie Lemay
- Sonia Pelletier
- Michèle Richard
- Annie St-Arneault
- Annie Turcotte
- Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz
Lori Fiddler daycare director of the Selkirk Friendship Centre then came up and discussed the many programs that the Friendship Centre hosts to help families in our communities. There are many factors that influence violence in our community and through their work they look to address some of them.
Allan then came back to the podium and shared her story.
“[The École Polytechnique tragedy] was the first time that people saw the reality that it just was not domestic violence. This was the first time that they witnessed misogyny, and the killing of women and the murder of women [just because they were women],” said Allan.
Though misogyny and violence against women come in a variety of forms Allan shared a story about how a family member of hers, many years ago, slipped through cracks in the way that domestic violence against women was handled. This relative was being abused by her husband who was an alcoholic.
“The social system at that time, said, if you want help, you have to leave. So, she left,” said Allan.
Unfortunately at the time that this happened harassment laws were not in place as they are today.
“She moved to where she thought would be close to her sister. He swore he would kill her,” said Allan.
Though Allan’s relative called the police because of the threat and stalking behaviour nothing could be done until a crime was committed.
Allan’s relative lost her life when the perpetrator killed her.
Allan says that this experience and the connections that she made in her professional life allowed her to work with others to advocate for change to the mental health act so that situations like this can be acted upon sooner.
“We have made great strides. Sometimes it feels like we have not but we have,” said Allan.
She ended the presentation with a prayer for those living in violent situations.
Record Photos by Katelyn Boulanger
