Sunday marked the beginning of the International White Ribbon Campaign to end violence against women.
The campaign encourages everyone, men in particular, to wear white ribbons from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6, to recognize a commitment to end men’s violence against women.
December 6 is a day commemorated in Canada to remember the 14 women who were singled out for their gender, and murdered in 1989 at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.
“In 1991, a group of men initiated the campaign to speak out about violence against women,” said Ann Godderis, Transition House Community Outreach.
“The movement has spread around the world, it is not just in Canada.”
FAIR is asking residents to wear a white ribbon to symbolize a commitment to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.
This year, Sherri Bond, program manager for FAIR’s specialized victim services, is assembling almost 300 ribbons, double the number from last year.
“We’ve already had a presentation at Webster School about healthy relationships, where we distributed ribbons to the children,” said Bond.
“Other schools, such as the Trail Middle School students and staff, have expressed interest in wearing the white ribbons as well.”
FAIR is holding a vigil on Dec. 5, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Trail United Church hall, to remember and honour the women killed in the Montreal Massacre and other victims of violence.
“The vigil is very participatory, we read the names of the Montreal victims, and speak of different situations that we remember locally or across the country, that involve issues of violence against women,” said Godderis.
“A safer and healthier community is really our objective,” she explained.
The event is free and the remembrance will be followed by a shared meal of pizza, veggies and sweets.
A non-perishable food donation to the WINS Transition House food cupboard would be welcome.
For more information or to pick up at ribbon, call Trail FAIR at 364-2326.