Remembering a Victim of Domestic Violence
On April 19, Shannon Scromeda, a young woman who was an activist in CUPE Local 500, was murdered by her partner. This tragic event has devastated everyone who knew this young vibrant woman. Shannon was an outgoing, funny, dedicated woman who was a mother to a four year old son, Riley.
Riley has had his mother taken from him and his father is in jail for this horrible crime. Shannon's whole life was for Riley, he was her love.
Shannon had been planning an event for her local union to be held on May 23. She did not want to do a Bud, spud, and steak. So being the creative person she was, she decided to go with a Ukrainian equivalent theme of PYVO (beer) and perogies. The event went ahead similar to what Shannon had planned - but was turned into an opportunity to raise money for Riley.
A trust fund has also been established. Donations to the fund can be made out to Riley Scromeda/Investors Group Financial Services Inc. and sent to Investors Group Financial Services Inc., 9th Floor, 1661 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3J 3T7, Attention John Trudel.
"I did not know Shannon Scromeda, but by god, I wish I had," says MFL President Darlene Dziewit. "She sounded like a truly amazing young woman. I never had the privilege of knowing Shannon, but I will never, ever forget her.
"Shannon was a budding CUPE activist. She had also begun to volunteer as a political activist, as well. In short, Shannon was the kind of young, female worker I most look forward to meeting. We need bright young trade unionists and political activists like Shannon if our movement is to survive and flourish. And now she is gone.
"We will never know what Shannon might have done in and with her life, if she was not murdered by her partner in her own home, in the one place that she should have been and felt safest. We cannot ever forget Shannon. If there is anything positive whatsoever that can be achieved by massive tragedy, it will be found in not forgetting what happened.
"The best tribute we can give to Shannon, her little boy and her family is for each and every one of us to work as hard as we can to end violence against all other women in our society. And in order to do that we have to unite, women and men. And we have to remember."
A short video tribute to Shannon Scromeda has been produced by CUPE 500. You can view it here in WMV. For those who don't have Windows Media Player installed on their computer, you can also view it as a Quicktime Mov file.