Shining a light on woman abuse, local event raises awareness

Tim Brody - Editor

Community members gathered at St. Andrew’s United Church on Nov. 25 to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, with Sioux Lookout’s 6th annual Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign.
The outdoor event saw the United Church courtyard lit up with strings of purple lights, the official color of the Shine the Light campaign symbolizing courage, survival, and honour and has come to symbolize the fight to end woman abuse.
The Shine the Light campaign, which was started in 2010 by the London Abused Women’s Centre in London, Ontario, has since spread to other countries across the globe. 
Part of the campaign locally included making purple lights available to the community, which they can use to show their support by lighting up their home windows or doors. The lights are left up until Dec 6, which marks the anniversary of the shooting at Polytechnique Montréal which occurred on December 6, 1989, claiming the lives of 14 women. 
The campaign is locally a joint effort by seven organizations who make up Sioux Lookout’s Violence Action Awareness Committee (VAAC), whose goal is to raise awareness by lighting our community with purple lights starting on Nov. 25 and ending Dec. 6. Member organizations include: First Step Women’s Shelter, The Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre, Ontario Native Women’s Association, Sunset Women’s Aboriginal Circle, the Northwestern Health Unit, Ah shawah bin Victim Support Services, and St. Andrew’s United Church.