Victims of violence remembered
A small group gathered in the Truro library on the anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history to remember women lost to violence.
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women started after 14 women were shot and killed, and 14 other people were injured, at École polytechnique, in Montreal, on Dec. 6, 1989.
“All were shot because the gunman said he was fighting feminism, because he hated feminists, because he thought women should not be studying in fields that were predominantly for men, because feminists ruined his life,” said Bev Walker, program supervisor at the Mi’kmaq Family Healing Centre, in Millbrook.
Walker said she is a survivor of abuse that took place about 25 years ago, and one of the reasons she went into her line of work was to ensure her children, and now her grandchildren, would know violence is not acceptable.
“I’ve been honoured by the women who come through our doors, to hear their stories over the last 19 years that I’ve been there,” she said. “And I’m honoured to be their voice when they need it and I’m honoured by them allowing us to be their support system sometimes when they have no one else.”
She encouraged everyone attending the event to reach out to others and to take a stand against violence.
Paintings done by women who took part in the ‘Heal Your Heart With Art’ program were on display, agencies have information available, and battery-operated tea lights were turned on in remembrance.