On Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Cranbrook will be commemorating the 14 young women who were senselessly murdered at École Polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989.

“As we take pause to reflect on the inequality and beliefs that caused the École Polytechnique tragedy twenty-five years ago, we are reminded that violence continues to be a reality for far too many women and girls in our community and across Canada every day,” said Cathryn Henley, President of CFUW Cranbrook.

One in three women in Canada will experience some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime.

Not only does violence jeopardize the security and wellbeing of women and girls, it also has a large economic impact on survivors and Canada as a whole. Statistics Canada and others have estimated the cost of intimate partner violence and sexual violence at $7.4 and $1.9 billion respectively, including the costs of social services, healthcare, the justice system, and lost productivity.

“Violence against women is an issue of great importance to CFUW Cranbrook,” said Henley.

Each year, CFUW National also offers École Polytechnique Commemorative Awards, totalling $12,000, to two outstanding graduate students whose research or area of study is related to women.

“CFUW believes that Canada must look for comprehensive solutions to help address the root causes of gender-based violence,” said Doris Mae Oulton, CFUW National President. “That is why we are calling on all federal political parties to support the creation of a National Action Plan on Violence against Women and Girls.”

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has called on all member states to develop National Action Plans on Violence against Women and Girls by the year 2015. Several states such as Australia have already developed comprehensive plans. The Government of Canada however, has denied the need here in Canada.

A recent report released by the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses, The Case for a National Action Plan on Violence against Women, clearly demonstrates otherwise.

CFUW Cranbrook has been active in this East Kootenay Community for 33 years, has a $64,000 perpetual scholarship and bursary program at the College of the Rockies, has supported women students through CFUW is a non-partisan, voluntary, self-funded organization with over 100 CFUW Clubs, located in every province across Canada. Since its founding in 1919, CFUW has been working to improve the status of women, and to promote human rights, public education, social justice, and peace.

For more information, please go to our website at www.cfuw-cranbrook.com.

Cranbrook CFUW

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