This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the first Women’s Memorial March to remember murdered and missing women in Vancouver.

Over 3,000 women are known to have gone missing or been murdered in Canada since the 1970’s.  Two years ago, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women issued this statement:  “Hundreds of cases involving Aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in the past two decades have neither been fully investigated nor attracted priority attention.”  The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is an opportunity to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters, remember the women who are still missing, and to dedicate ourselves to justice.

For those interested in participating, please find below some Memorial Marches and Rallies taking place on February 14 across Canada:

Vancouver, British Columbia

Event: Women’s Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women
Address and time:  Gathering at Noon – Carnegie Community Centre Theatre 401 Main Street (corner of Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C.).  The Memorial March will follow at 1 p.m.  Speeches will be given by community activists at the police station followed by a healing circle held at Oppenheimer Park at around 3 p.m., and finally, a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall at 487 Alexander Street, Vancouver, BC.
Information:  The event is organized by the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (www.dewc.ca).   For donations, please make cheques payable to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, and include Women’s Memorial March on the memo line.  Cheques should be mailed to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, 302 Columbia St., Vancouver, BC V6A 4J1.  All donations over $10 will be gratefully acknowledged with a tax deduction receipt.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Women’s Memorial March Committee at 604-665-3005.

Calgary, Alberta

Event: Third Annual Valentine’s Day Women’s Memorial March
Address: The march will start and end at the Scarboro United Church, 134 Scarboro Avenue SW, Calgary.
Time: Doors open at 5 p.m., Guest speakers at 6 p.m. March commences at 6:30 p.m.
Information: Refreshments will be served. Parking is available on site.  Media welcome.

 
Edmonton, Alberta

Event: 6th Annual Memorial March for all the Missing and Murdered Women of Edmonton
Address: Sacred Heart Church (10821 – 96 Street)
Time: 6 p.m.
Information: Contact Danielle Boudreau for more information at memorialmarch@live.com. Please wear red or purple.     

Toronto, Ontario

Event: Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Native Women
Address: Rally and March begins outside the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Information: Event organized by Sisters and Brothers in Solidarity.

Ottawa, Ontario

Event: Day of Justice Rally for Sisters in Spirit!
Address: Rally on Parliament Hill
Time: Noon–2 p.m.

Montreal, Quebec

Event: 2nd Annual Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women
Address: Rally at Cabot Square (Atwater Avenue and Ste. Catherine Street West) followed by a march to Dorchester Square (Peel Street and René Lévesque West).
Time: 3 p.m.
Information: Organized by Missing Justice (www.missingjustice.ca). 


Please note that TWU members who choose to attend must do so at their own personal expense and time.  We respectfully ask that members please do not bring banners, flags, or leaflets as the Women’s Memorial March carries five banners only to honour the women.