Events
International Women’s Day
March 8 has been designated internationally as the day to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women. This day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to advance women’s equality and celebrate those advancements, to assess the challenges and barriers that women still face today, and to consider future steps to further enhance the status of all women in all they do.
Each year Status of Women Central honors this day by hosting a dinner at the Grand Falls Legion. In March of 2009, approximately 200 women came together to mark this special day with an evening of great food, quality shared time within a wonderful gathering of people, motivational speakers and a celebration of our progress towards equality.
Take Back the Night
Sexual Violence Awareness Week is mid September and is a time when women’s organizations raise awareness on sexual violence in our society. It is a time for women to “move freely in their communities at day and night without harassment and sexual assault” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/take_back_the _night ). The march is to symbolize a woman’s individual walk through darkness and that we hope someday women will be able to take that march without fear and violence.
Status of Women Central in partnership with the Central West Committee Against Violence typically organizes a rally in the College of the North Atlantic parking lot followed by a march by women and children to the court house where some visible recognition of victims of the court is left behind. The gathering then marches from the court house to the Women’s Center where we hold a social gathering for everyone involved.
This is the only event that Status of Women Central wishes to be attended by women and children only. Since the event’s purpose is to bring awareness to the fact that when women walk alone, without protection from a man, she is vulnerable, we request that men not take part in the walk. However, our male partners, fathers, brothers, uncles, colleagues, etc. are encouraged to stand on the sidewalk of the planned route to support the walk and are always invited back to the Women’s Center after the march for the social gathering.
In 2008, Status of Women Central, along with the partners Central West Committee Against Violence, RCMP and Victims Services, took a different approach to Sexual Violence Awareness Week. We reached out to our youth by having a lunch time presentation at Exploits Valley High. Approximately 90 students were in attendance where we presented a slideshow on the victims of violence. These slides showed the faces of the many people who died from some form of violence, bullying, partner abuse, or family violence.
Women's History Month
In 1992, the Federal Government of Canada declared the month of October as Canadian Women’s History Month – historically, the month that saw women declared persons under the law in 1929.
It is hoped that by having one month of the year devoted to women’s history, people will be encouraged to explore the many extraordinary achievements of ordinary women who helped shape our nation. Women like Emily Murphy, the first woman in the British Commonwealth to be appointed a magistrate, along with Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Edwards – together known as the famous five, or Cairine Wilson who was the first woman appointed to the Canadian Senate, or Valentina Tereshkova who was the first woman in space, or Jane Addams who was the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, or Commander Josée Kurtz who is the first Canadian woman to lead a major warship or the many, many others who have opened doors for all women after them.
National Day of Remembrance
and Action on Violence Against Women
On December 6, 1989, Marc Lepine entered Montreal’s Polytechnic University, separated the males from the females, opened fire and killed 14 young women. He then killed himself. He carried a note stating that he blamed women for all the problems in his life and in society as a whole. Those 14 women died because they were women.
In 1991, Parliament of Canada declared December 6th, the date that those 14 women from Montreal were murdered, as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
It is a day to recognize the extent of violence against women in our society; a time to think about the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality; a time to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence; a time for us all to consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
Women may demonstrate their commitment to ending violence against women by wearing a purple ribbon the week leading up to December 6th.
Men may wear a white ribbon to demonstrate the same commitment. According to The White Ribbon Campaign web-site it is “the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women. Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. “http://www.whiteribbon.ca/about_us/
Every year, Status of Women Central ‘join together’ and the Central West Committee Against Violence, join together, to commemorate the 14 young women who lost their lives in the Montreal Massacre and to bring awareness to the eradication of violence.
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