Women lost to domestic violence remembered

Since 1990 more than 80 Nova Scotia women have lost their lives due to violence.

For 52, their deaths came at the hands of their intimate partners, forever silencing their voices. The time has come to end their silence.

The Pictou County Chapter of Silent Witness Nova Scotia is a group of individuals working together to raise the voices of women who have lost their lives at the hands of their intimate partners. Through community involvement and support, the Pictou County Chapter is creating free standing, life-size, red, wooden silhouettes, each bearing the name of a Pictou County woman whose life ended violently as a result of domestic violence.

The SWNSPC will host a dedication ceremony as well as their annual Walk to Remember on Oct. 21 (rain date, Oct. 22).

The Pictou County Chapter is pleased to announce they are working in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women to bring Barb’s Bench Program to the county.

Barb’s Bench is a program that was created in memory of Barbara Baillie, a woman whose life ended in violence on Oct. 19, 1990. Her children placed the initial purple bench in her memory.

Barbara Baillie was a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and loving friend. Her life was cut short by domestic violence. Barb’s Bench commemorates all women who have been silenced by violence. The benches are placed for all to celebrate the lives of these women, raise awareness of

domestic violence, and encourage others at risk, and those who love them, to reach out and seek assistance.

This idea of Barb’s Bench was expanded with the help of Silent Witness Nova Scotia and the NS Advisory Council on the Status of Women. These organizations have committed to place three benches throughout the province, which includes the bench being placed in Pictou County. This bench will honour all women who have lost their lives to domestic violence.

The Pictou County Chapter of SWNS does not have source funding and relies solely upon donations. This is why we host an annual walk in various communities in Pictou County. We hope that you can join us as we walk to honour all Nova Scotian women. Anyone can join the walk by signing up as an individual or as a team. Online registration and donations: https://www.canadahelps.org/ en/charities/the-society-for-silentwitness-nova-scotia/bench2017/

The Remember Me Walk will be a meandering walk through the beautiful Sampson Trail. The walk will begin at the Glasgow Square Gazebo, proceed across the George Street Bridge and end at the Kinsmen Look-off, Terrace Street, New Glasgow. The trail will be lined with red silhouettes as a reminder of those women who lost their lives to domestic violence. You can join the walk anytime between 2 and 4 p.m.,

Oct. 21, Glasgow Square Gazebo, New Glasgow. The Barb’s Bench Dedication Ceremony is at 1 p.m. with the Walk to Remember 2 to 4 p.m.

Check our Facebook, www.facebook.com/silentwitnesspc

For more information about Silent Witness Nova Scotia’s programs, visit the coalition’s website at www.silentwitnessnovascotia.ca.

Pictou County Chapter, SWNS Board of Directors