A Time to Remember - and Push for Change
Day of Remembrance Luncheon hears from leaders on women's issues.
The Day of Remembrance luncheon organized by the MFL Women's Committee to mark the 18th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montreal was once again very well attended. The key note speaker was Elaine Bishop, Director of the North Point Douglas Women's Centre.
Elaine was articulate about not just the violence against women, but also about the need to remember and to talk about it. She called on men to take on the challenge, beginning with educating our young men to be gentle. Elaine talked about successes in the North Point Douglas neighbourhood of Winnipeg. Recent successes have included closing down drug houses and the work done by SISTARS, a group of women who have successfully opened a child care centre in the area.
Also speaking to those who attended the Day of Remembrance Luncheon Nancy Allan, Manitoba's Minister of Labour and Immigration, with responsibility for Women. She spoke about the announced public consultations on amending the Employment Services Act to require the registration of Immigration "brokers" who often take advantage of temporary foreign workers. The amendments to the Employment Services Act will also address the issue of bogus modelling agencies who prey on young girls with promises of fame as models.
MFL President Darlene Dziewit expressed her sentiments about the Day of Remembrance by saying "December 6 is always a difficult day for me, as well as for so many other women. While we use the day to re-commit ourselves to action, we are also reminded that change is very slow to come on this issue.
"Last year in Manitoba alone, 13 women were murdered, some by their partners, some by other women, some by persons unknown to them, and in one horrific case a mother and her four year old daughter were murdered by the mother's son. It is sometimes difficult to get past the anger and horror of it all.
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"But we must get past this anger. To do otherwise is to let the horror continue. It is only by shining a light on violence, and by standing up to those who perpetrate it, that positive change will come.
"However, let us make no mistake, those who have much to answer for include governments like our Federal one which talks about punishing the perpetrators of violence and yet refuses to assist women's groups who lobby for better treatment of women. Punishment won't fix this problem, it will only fill our jails with angry men.
"We need to change the way women are perceived. Sexism is still rampant, and this is the true cause of violence against women. Maybe the Federal government should start to listen to the women who are on the front lines on this issue. Then we might see some real change."