December 6 - Then & Now

Long Reach United Church, Dec 6, 2023

December 6 is etched in the minds of many of us. Especially Canadians.

It is the day when in 1989 at École Polytechnique, 14 women were killed because they were women. Another 13 women were injured. All by a man motivated by hatred of feminists. 

On that day, I was working at the toxicology lab of the Atlantic Veterinary College. Actually it was not until the evening news that I realized the horror of the murders. I recall vividly the conversations at work on Dec 7. A primarily female staff, our hearts wept at the realization that these women were murdered because they were women interested in engineering. We were a group of women who also loved science and technology. This horrific act of systemic misogyny was very personal on many levels.

Fast forward 34 years to Wednesday’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women when people gathered across the country to never forget that day and acknowledge that gender based violence continues today. 

According to a recent CBC article we know that “most incidents of violence are never reported — not to police or health-care professionals, rarely to family and friends. Therefore, we know the statistics show only a snapshot of what is really happening in the public and private spaces of New Brunswick.” 

Within that small snapshot, “police-reported data shows there were 749 victims of sexual assault in New Brunswick in 2022.” While in 2018 "27 per cent of women in New Brunswick had experienced physical or sexual assault committed by an intimate partner since age 15.”

In response to the need in NB we have 26 transitions homes - shelters for women and children fleeing violence at home. While these shelters are partially funded by our provincial government, that provincial funding has not increased over many years despite the increased cost of everything from sugar to salaries.

So think of the many women you will gather with over the holidays. Imagine almost 1 in 3 women sitting around your table will have experienced intimate partner violence. That may include you.

To acknowledge today's reality, last night a community of friends gathered for worship at Long Reach United Church. We lit candles of lament and acknowledged the places of gender based violence. We lit candles of hope and named places in the world where equality is growing. 

Tonight I gathered for a Christmas party with women who work at Heista House in Saint John (a women’s shelter). They laughed, ate delicious food, gave thanks told stories of tender care and outrageous pranks. They will continue to provide a safe brave space. 

Meanwhile we can dream and work toward a time when equality is the norm and women’s shelters a thing of the past. Oh for a time when provincial budgets would reflect a community who value women’s lives. Oh for a time when energy could be spent in caring rather than fund raisers. Oh for a time when our grandchildren will ask, “Why did you need a women’s shelter?”

There is always hope. 

In Peace,

Elizabeth

elizstevenson@gmail.com

506-650-4812