Montreal Massacre Memorial Service for Victims of Gender Violence
WHEN
Members of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women will host their annual Charlottetown Memorial Service to mark Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The Memorial Service will take place on Friday, December 6th at a special time - 12:30 to 1:30pm. The event is open to the public; wearing face masks is welcome.
The 2023-2024 theme of the Purple Ribbon Campaign Against Violence Against Women is “Communities Can End Gender-Based Violence ~ awareness, advocacy, and action.”
The theme reflects the challenge of ending gender violence that is part of every community across PEI. Everyone has a role in prevention, identification, accountability, and recovery from violence. It truly takes a community of people willing to educate themselves about violence and trauma, willing to advocate for services for survivors and families, and willing to take action to ensure our towns are inclusive and safe for everyone.
Candles will be lit in remembrance of the fourteen (14) women murdered in the Montreal Massacre of 1989 and each of the ten (10) Island women killed since that year by men who knew them. As well, the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada will be honoured through Mi’kmaw ceremony and prayer offered by Julie Pellisier-Lush and the Aboriginal Women’s Association of PEI. Many of the candle-lighters will be family members and loved ones related to the PEI women who have been killed by gender-based violence.
Guest speaker Jayelee Grady, Manager of Victim Services PEI, will address “Building Safer Communities: Working Together to End Gender-Based Violence.” There will be musical performance by singer Kelley Mooney, and piano accompaniment during the service by Todd MacLean. The Silent Witness silhouettes created by UPSE in remembrance of Island women lost to violence will be on display, as well as other pieces of commemorative art.
December 6th marks 35 years since the Montreal Massacre at l’École Polytechnique. We mourn the women whose lives have been ended, and rage that thousands continue to be murdered in Canada and around the world each year. We remember and honour women’s lives, and insist on an end to gender-based violence.
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Memorial Hall, Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown, PEI (venue sponsor)
