A vigil is being held in Belleville on Friday, December 6 to recognize the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
December 6 marks the 35th year since the murders of the 14 young women at Polytechnique Montreal.
The day not only remembers and honours victims but is also a call to action to prevent further gender-based violence.
Officials with the Three Oaks Foundation and the local Sexual Assault Centre say we need to continue the dialogue on violence against women and femicide and call on the leaders in all communities and at all levels of government to invest in prevention that will allow the femicide list to be zero.
In Ontario, the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) tracks femicide to raise awareness of this urgent issue.
From November 2023 to November 2024, there have been 62 femicides in Ontario alone.
OAITH defines femicide as the gender-related killing of women, children, and gender-diverse individuals by men, highlighting the critical need for change.
The vigil will be held at 11:00 a.m. at The CORE Arts & Culture Centre, 223 Pinnacle Street, Belleville.
Three Oaks Foundation and Sexual Assault Centre staff will be present to provide to support to individuals.
