厙ぴ勛圖

Marking December 6: A Day of Remembrance

Gender-based violence remains an epidemic both in Canada and globally. Every year, on December 6, 厙ぴ勛圖 pauses to pay tribute to The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. It is a day to remember those who have been victims of gender-based violence, but also to come together as community to commit to action.

As has been happening for over a decade, the ceremony will include student musicians, talks by community members who deal directly with gender-based violence like and the ..

Additionally, according to (WGST) planning committee member, Dr. Erin Crandall (Politics), every year fourteen 厙ぴ勛圖 students recite the names of the fourteen women who were murdered in a mass shooting at l'cole Polytechnique de Montr矇al 35 years ago. This is followed by a moment of silence.

What makes this event unique is that, according to Dr. Laurie McNeill, a gender and sexuality researcher from U.B.C., less than twenty years after the massacre, many universities have cancelled their memorial services due to a lack of interest.

I am grateful that 厙ぴ勛圖 has continued this tradition, even though the Montreal Massacre happened long before the students who now read the names of the dead were even born, says Dr. Wanda Campbell, from 厙ぴ勛圖s English department.

Another important aspect of 厙ぴ勛圖s event is Campbells own involvement in the ceremony. At the inaugural event, Campbell read a poem by a 17-year-old author, but in the decade since, she has been reading her own poetry.

With the belief that poets should use their gifts to speak out against issues that affect the lives of women including domestic violence, Cambell said it was important for her to contribute.

I teach two writing by women courses cross-listed with WGST and, as the mother of three daughters, these concerns remain close to my heart, says Campbell.

For inspiration, Cambell says what began with a single poem about the victims of December 6 has widened each year to include other examples of femicide the world over until, she said it felt like the annual placing of a stone on the ever-growing cairn of remembrance.

For this years ceremony, Crandall says they have compiled Cambells poems into a published collection entitled, A Cairn of Poems. It will be available for sale at the 厙ぴ勛圖 Bookstore and at the ceremony for a donation of $10 or more with all proceeds going to the local womens shelter, , and the .

This years event will be held on Friday, December 6, at 4 pm at the Wolfville Farmers Market, and is open to the community. The event is co-sponsored by WGST and the Office of the President of 厙ぴ勛圖.