Since 2019, women in the Lethbridge and surrounding area, organize a Memorial Walk in Downtown Lethbridge on Valentine's Day as a way to commemorate, honour, and bring awareness to the national tragedy of Missing and Murdered Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA people.
Family and community will meet on Friday, February 14, 12:00 pm at Stafford Drive and 4th Ave S (near Lethbridge City Hall).
Spread the word and join us (all genders welcome) to the Feb 14th march. We respectfully ask that you please do not bring your agency or group banners, flags, or leaflets as the march only carries signage remembering our sisters. Signs to honour womens’ lives are welcome. (We will have some placards available.)
Timeline:
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm: Meet in front of City Hall
12:10 pm - 12:20 pm: Prayer - remembering our sisters
12:20 pm - 1:00 pm: Walk
1:00 pm: Walk ends back at City Hall
Walk Route (on sidewalk):
Start City Hall
Cross Stafford and walk along 4th Avenue (head West)
until 5th street turn right (go North)
walk to 3rd Avenue turn right (go East)
until Stafford Drive then turn right (go South)
end back at City Hall
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The Lethbridge Memorial March is inspired by the Women’s Memorial March DTES. Everyone is encouraged to learn more.
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"The first women’s memorial march was held in 1992 in response to the murder of a woman on Powell Street in Vancouver. Out of this sense of hopelessness and anger came an annual march on Valentine’s Day to express compassion, community, and caring for all women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Unceded Coast Salish Territories."
"At present day, Indigenous women disproportionately continue to go missing or be murdered with minimal to no action to address these tragedies or the systemic nature of gendered violence, poverty, racism, or colonialism."
"This event is organized and led by women because women – especially Indigenous women – face physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual violence on a daily basis. The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is an opportunity to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters, remember the women who are still missing, and to dedicate ourselves to justice."
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/334561112830693
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The march is made possible by organizations and individuals like you. This year we need to raise $10,000. Please donate online https://dewc.ca/donate-online and in the question “Where would you like to give?” please specify the Women’s Memorial March.” Or please make cheques payable to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, and include Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March on the memo line. Mail cheques to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, 302 Columbia St. Vancouver, BC V6A 4J1. All donations over $10 will be gratefully acknowledged with a tax-deductible receipt.