Photo by Andre Ouellet on Unsplash.

On December 6, 2020 the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Southport chapter will once again recognize the 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal who were segregated and murdered in 1989 by a man who claimed to be fighting feminism. Only this year, it will be a Virtual Vigil via Zoom.

"We will also honour the thousands of Indigenous women who have gone missing or have been murdered," read a November 27 CFUW Southport media release, adding that grassroots organizations and the Minister of the Status of Women say that the number is close to 4,000.

The Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Inquiry reported that Indigenous women and girls represent 10 per cent of all female homicides in Canada, despite making up only three per cent of the country’s female population, read the release. Since 2016 there have been three Indigenous women a month killed.

Finally, CFUW Southport acknowledges those who are still suffering from gender-based violence today.

As the world retreats inside homes due to the lockdown measures introduced to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, reports show an alarming increase in the already existing pandemic of abuse against women. Local shelters report that there has been a huge increase in the calls for both domestic violence and for sexual assaults; and for the first time in 23 years, Kabaeshiwim Women's Respite in Saugeen First Nation cannot offer in-house support for women beyond the community itself.

"You can make a difference during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," continued the release. "You can support the three women's shelters in Bruce and Grey counties."

All donations made through CFUW Southport will be divided equally between Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey (WHSBG) in Kincardine, Kabaeshiwim Respite Women's Shelter in Saugeen First Nation and The Women’s Centre Grey and Bruce in Owen Sound.

To register for the December 6th Virtual Vigil, visit southportcfuw.wixsite.com/cfuw-southport. To donate to the women's shelters go to trellis.org/cfuw-vigil.