I didn't really check them out too close as I'm not a student and thus never on campus (I was actually just using a common area to eat a take-out dinner in from the cold).

However, it got me thinking that I don't remember Dec. 6th rallies / memorials outside of a college context. Is Dec 6 only marked at college / universities?

a woman got raped about 3 days ago at the University of Saskatchewan and they are planning a memorial at the site of the rape.

be warned - lots of stupid (and sexist) jerks go on this site... feel free to post to it and argue with them... the two or three of us who are feminists/profeminists could use some other people articulating strong positions!

hope this link works...

http://tinyurl.com/xqrs

as to your question mick, I know that in saskatoon at least D6 is more than just a campus event... last year there was a "x-mas tree lighting" where a shelter lit up a big tree (they were selling ornaments people could put on it for a fundraiser that tanked big time)

I also rented a hall, had a benefit gig for a shelter, had a series of workshops and a benefit zine on D6... the gig went over well, as always, but the workshops suffered from poor attendance and the zine was a bit of a bust...

I also got shouted down by a bunch of the local women for daring to do something on D6 (as I'm a guy)... If guys don't do anything about sexism, what's the point, right?

unions tend to do some work around the day, but I don't know what comes of it... I don't know if they just put posters around the workplaces or if they organize any events or memorials...

[ 04 December 2003: Message edited by: audra estrones ]

[ 04 December 2003: Message edited by: terra1st ]

[ 15 November 2004: Message edited by: audra trower williams ]

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/dec6/calendar_e.html#ONTARIO

Minto Park, Elgin Street.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mick:
Is Dec 6 only marked at college / universities?

---

Not in Peterborough, Northumberland and Clarington.

"Schools throughout the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board will participate in activities to recognize and respect the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6.

"In 1991, the federal government declared December 6 a memorial day to honour the memory of 14 female engineering students killed by a gunman at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique on December 6, 1989. This day, and the entire week, serve to raise awareness of, and are a call to end, violence against women.

"The week of December 1-5, schools may participate in some of the following:

- daily announcements that promote peaceful conflict resolution and gender equity
- activities that focus on the issues of violence
- wearing white ribbons or Rose Buttons to honour and remember women who were and are victims of violence
- donating money for the ribbons and buttons to local women’s shelters
- placing white ribbons at the front of the school to support a commitment to treat all people with respect
- lowering flags to half mast on December 5 and observing a moment of silence to remember the victims of December 6, 1989.

"For the past 12 years we have observed this memorial day and the whole week by wearing and displaying white ribbons. The ribbons serve as a call to end violence in our schools and communities and to participate in activities that address violence pro-actively," says Ruth Braganca, Team Leader, Staffing, Equity and Employment Systems.

"We are committed to the prevention of violence generally, and, in particular, violence against women," says Dr. Avis Glaze, Director of Education. "We have expanded our anti-bullying programs. We continue to teach students conflict-resolution skills, and promote respect and empathy in our school communities."

(Our school trustees happened to meet the night of the massacre. We instantly and unanimously agreed to lower all the school flags to half-mast the next day. Some principals just didn't get it, quoting that "protocol calls for flags to be flown at half-mast on the death of the Sovereign or a member of the Royal Family related in the first degree to the Sovereign, the Governor General, The Prime Minister of Canada, a former Governor General, a former Prime Minister of Canada, a federal Cabinet Minister, the Lieutenant Governor of the province, the Provincial Premier, the member of the House of Commons or the member of the Provincial Legislature, or (in special cases) students, staff, residents, or former residents of the school board area." These Quebec women didn't qualify, they said. Well, we started a new protocol, I guess. )

(Not to brag unduly, but some people assume Port Hope is Wasptown. Quoted above are Ruth Braganca who stems from Goa, and Dr. Avis Glaze who was raised in Jamaica.)

[ 05 December 2003: Message edited by: Wilfred Day ]

B.C. Federation of Labour Calls for Continued Action to End Violence Against Women

Words of Remembrance, Acts of Resistance. Unions get new resources to help stop violence against women. - CLC

December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Remember, Mourn, Organize! - PASC

Honouring our beloved daughters, sisters and friends - NUPGE

Ontario Federation of Labour: December 6-National Day Of
Remembrance & Action On Violence Against Women

[ 06 December 2003: Message edited by: Mick ]

I once chose to do a research on violence against women by men that leads to murder. I studied the whole Marc Lépine thing. If you read his evolution, Lépine grew more and more unstable after being rejected by women. Now, as much as this has to be taken into consideration in light of his possible mental unstability, we should not forget that this event has been remembered since 1989 because of the symbol it represents. The control issue, the idea of women taking men's places, and the right to put them back in "their place". it is a symbol of the violence women have to live with in the hands of men because of hundreds of years of male domination.

It is also, in my opinion, a day for women studying in universities to remember other women who died while educating themselves. The right we have to do so.

Now, although I'm not saying that all men do not accept women accessing universities, far from it, there still is a portion of the male population who feels that women have been taking their jobs and spots in universities. I'm certain other women have had these experiences, as I've had.

Some examples i could give are not direct discrimination, but makes us understand the way people think. For example, I have a bachelor in Law, and its happened to me a few times that men have asked me what I do, and when i tell them that I am a law student, they respond: "Oh. I heard a lot of women are studying law these days." or "Oh. That's good for you. More and more women are going to University these days..." And they say it with a pause at the begining. TO which I always feel like replying "Is that a problem?" Just to hear that comment frustrates me because why would you point that out, what does that have to do with anything?!

Or when I tell people I work in a law firm, and it happens regularly, only this week it happened three times, men (it only happens with men) assume i am the secretary. Without asking! Without knowing. I get comments like "it's a hard job to take care of lawyers, heh?" or "my sister is also a secretary in a law firm" YOu can't imagine how much it irritates me.

Because underneath those comments is an intolerance for women studying is these typically male fields.

Sunrise Memorial
Hosted by: Manitoba Women's Advisory Council

Legislative Building
450 Broadway Avenue
7:30 a.m. on December 6, 2004.

Ceremony to remember the 14 young women killed in Montreal on December 6, 1989, as well as all women affected by violence and to commemorate
Canada's Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

A light breakfast to follow in the Rotunda.
Everyone welcome. Please bring an unwrapped toy for children or a gift for women in shelters during the holiday season.
RSVP: 945-6281

Canadian poet Patrick Lane wrote a decent poem honouring the 14 women. There are many more I am sure. I've got one myself as well that I would like to share at some point. Anyone interested?

[ 21 November 2004: Message edited by: N.Beltov ]