This year's event will be held virtually on Zoom!

Please join us for the AFL's 31st Annual December 6th Commemorative Event for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

When: Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, 1pm – 2pm MST

Where: Online through Zoom. Please register in advance.

It has been 31 years since the tragic mass shooting at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal (December 6, 1989) that saw the promising lives of 14 young women cut violently short. This senseless act of targeted violence shook our country and led Parliament to designate December 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

As we mourn their loss and honour their memory, we reaffirm our commitment to fight the hatred that led to this tragedy, and the misogyny that still exists today. In Canada and around the world, women, girls, LGBTQ2 (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two spirit) and gender diverse individuals face unacceptable violence and discrimination. Gender-based violence in Canada has been magnified and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who we have lost to it; it is also a time to take action. Working together we can help prevent and address gender-based violence by remembering and learning from our past, listening to survivors, and speaking up against harmful behaviour.

Featuring:

Haiqa Cheema, Bio here.

Charmaine St. Germain, Bio here.

Shima A. Robinson aka Dwennimmen, a spoken word artist who will perform "For My Sisters." Amiskwaciwâskahikan aka Edmonton (Treaty 6)-born poet and spoken word artist Shima Robinson embodies, with every poem, the ancient meaning of her chosen pen name. Dwennimmen is the name of an ancient African Adinkra symbol, which means strength, humility, learning and wisdom. It is no surprise, then, that this veteran of the Alberta poetry community uses a searing intellect and dynamic precision-of-language to create poetry which ushers her readers and listeners toward greater understanding and poignant reflection. 

Hosted by:

Karen Kuprys, Secretary Treasurer, Alberta Federation of Labour

This event is free to all, and for those able, we ask for you to make a donation to the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelter AFL Justice Fund to support Indigenous women and on reserve shelters.

Please donate by cheque to the Alberta Federation of Labour with "AFL Women's Justice Fund" in the memo and mail it in before December 3, 2021.