December 6: remembering and action

The public will gather together this weekend to mark the 18th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, and commit to taking action to rid their corner of the world of violence against women and abuse in families.

The Abuse Awareness Project (TAAP) is holding a ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 6, to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

The names of the 14 young women who were murdered in 1989 at l’Ecole Polytechnique will be read out.

Those well-known names will be followed by the names of eight people in Northumberland County whose lives have been affected by abuse and violence in just the past year.

People can then commit to doing something to counter violence by lighting a candle for their intention.

The action can be writing a letter to the editor or a Member of Parliament protesting cuts to women’s programs. Making a donation to the Northumberland Services for Women shelter or volunteering with a local organization that helps women.

The event will take place in Cobourg on Saturday Dec. 6 from noon until 12:30 at The Gathering Place, on the east side of Victoria Park across Paul Currelly Way.