Valentine's Day march to raise awareness of violence towards women held in Pincher Creek

Protesters marching on Main Street

Toni Lucas

A parade of men and women  protesting against violence towards women took to Main Street Pincher Creek at noon on Friday February 14, Valentines Day. The walk was organized through the Pincher Creek Women's Shelter and the Kainai Woman's Wellness Lodge. The protesters were escorted by Pincher Creek RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Dixon.

"Today we are meeting to commemorate V-Day, which is the One Billion Rising campaign," explained Pincher Creek Women's Shelter Executive Director Julie Coleman. She said the movement has been active since 1998. "The one billion rising this year is rising for justice. So it is for any form of discrimination or abuse, or violation against woman or girls internationally. One in three women or girls worldwide are beaten or raped in their lifetime and that translates to over a billion people. It is something that happens worldwide."

"This is our community's effort to come together to walk together and say that we are working in solidarity. We are also combining it with the commemorative walk for missing or murdered indigenous woman."

"We are here today to support woman across Canada and to stop family violence," Manager of the Kainai Woman's Wellness Lodge Doris Sweet Grass. "Also to support women who have been murdered or missing and for the families of the victims that are missing or murdered."

Julie Coleman, Doris Sweet Grass and Sgt. Dixon before the walk

Both Coleman and Sweet Grass addressed the crowd that gathered in front of the Provincial Building and then a prayer was offered up for the safety of all women, and for those that had suffered, or would suffer in the future. There was drums and singing as the protesters walked from the Provincial building to the old Bargain Shop location on Main Street and back.

Related:

Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women’s Initiative 

Community Engagement Session to be held Feb. 21

Government of Alberta press release
The government of Alberta is working to enhance services to families of murdered and missing Aboriginal women. We need your input.

Stakeholders and service providers are welcome to participate in an upcoming community engagement session. Research has shown that Aboriginal women are twice as likely to be violently victimized and/or murdered compared to non-Aboriginal women so it is critical to ensure there is an effective response to this issue. You can assist by telling us what helps, what doesn’t help, and what is needed when a loved one goes missing or murdered. Collectively we can identify and address service delivery gaps for families of missing and murdered women who are victims of crime.

We hope to create resource materials to assist victims and their families, and ensure there is a culturally sensitive response. Please join us:
February 26th, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 P.m.
Lethbridge Public Library, 810 – 5th Avenue South

Snacks and lunch will be provided.  Anyone interested in participating is asked to complete and return the registration form by February 21.

Related link:
www.onebillionrising.org