By battlefordsNOW

Battlefords ceremony shines light on violence against women

Dec 7, 2016 | 2:19 PM

Battlefords residents came together to remember the victims of a shooting that left 14 women dead, and reflect on how violence against women affects us today.

A ceremony at the Discovery Co-op on Tuesday, Dec. 6 marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. The day was established in 1991 to remember the 14 young women murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal on Dec. 6, 1989.

“[This day is] very important because we are still living in a society where violence against women is very prevalent,” Catholic Family Services counsellor Erin Woytiuk said. “Today we just take the time to pause and remember the women who were killed in Montreal in 1989 and then just reflect on what is still occurring today.”

Ann McArthur of Interval House said more than 50 per cent of Canadian women will be subject to violence at some point in their lives, and a woman is killed by her intimate partner every six days in Canada.

In Saskatchewan, the rate of violence against women is almost double the national average. McArthur said there are more women in shelters in Saskatchewan because of spousal abuse than any other province.

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Woytiuk said ending violence against women can start with children, by teaching them to respect one another. She said an open, honest dialogue and awareness of the issue is a way any person can begin to address the violence.

“We can talk to our children, we can teach in schools how to be respectful to each other, we can be just aware of our surroundings,” she said. “When we see someone that needs help to help them, not to turn a blind eye.”

Woytiuk said if a person knows someone in a potentially abusive situation, just talk to them and try to direct them to proper services, which in the Battlefords could include Interval House and Catholic Family Services, as well as Victim Services, Canadian Mental Health Association or the RCMP.

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.