McMaster remembers lives ended by violence

At McMaster's 15th annual commemoration service for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, candles will be lit in memory of 14 women murdered 15 years ago at Ecole Polytechnique, four McMaster women whose lives were ended by violence and 500 Aboriginal women who have gone missing or murdered in Canada over the last 20 years.

“Fifteen years ago, on Dec. 6, the thin wall that separates life and death was pierced by a young man who chose violence as a path,” says Carol Wood, ecumenical chaplain from Divinity College. “It was clearly an act of violence against women, as Mark Lepine separated women from men and shot them. This senseless act of gender violence has mobilized both women and men in the effort to remember the 14 women who died and to advocate on behalf of all victims of gender violence.”

Today's service begins at 5:30 p.m. in Gilmour Hall, Council Chambers, Rm. 111.

The Anti-Violence Network embraces this anniversary as an opportunity to stand with others on campus and in the community to remember and work for change, Wood says. “The candles are a powerful symbol of hope and commitment to bring light to the issue of violence against women.”

Donations of toiletries, toys and money from the Bathtub Project, an initiative by students from various faith groups across campus, will also be presented to battered women's and children's shelters tonight.

For further information, call the Chaplaincy Centre at ext. 24127 or the Human Rights & Equity Services office at ext. 24235.