32nd Annual February 14 Women’s Memorial March

Unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səlil̓wətaʔɬ territories.

Tuesday February 14, 2023 from 10 am until 5 pm.

Family & community gather at 10 am at Main & Hastings. Family members speak in remembrance.

March for public starts at 12 pm from Carnegie (Main and Hastings) until 4 pm. All are welcome as the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside. We make many stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found.

Speeches by community members are made at around 2 pm, followed by a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 3:30 pm.

Community feast for all at Japanese Language Hall (487 Alexander Street) from 4-5 pm.

COVID protocols in effect: masks provided, and social distancing required. The march will also be livestreamed on youtube and facebook, more information to follow.

RSVP and share on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/5559478237496049

Please volunteer to support the march. We need approximately 84 volunteers (all genders welcome): https://signup.com/go/AXMcnTp

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 on unceded Coast Salish territories.

The memorial march continues to honour the lives of our beloved sisters in the Downtown Eastside, and all women’s and gender-diverse peoples’ lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many women and gender-diverse people from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and trans people 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 Indigenous women in the DTES because women – especially Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and trans people – 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 and MMIWG2S+ relatives in the Downtown Eastside, remember the women who are still missing, and to dedicate ourselves to justice.

SUPPORT THE MEMORIAL MARCH

There are many ways to support the Memorial March:

1) ATTEND: 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.

2) KNOW THE PROTOCOL: In a good way, we want to inform everyone about the protocol the march that has been in place for three decades:

• At 10 am, there will be a family and community remembrance at Main and Hastings.
• At noon, the elders and family members make a circle at Main and Hastings for the prayer circle and then the march proceeds.
• Women elders carrying medicines are at the front, followed by all women elders and family members and women drummers. The quilt made by loved ones in the DTES community is carried behind the family members and drummers.
• Everyone is invited to follow. We ask that you leave your organizational banners at home, signs honouring women’s lives are welcome.
• The march makes a number of stops along the way for ceremony to honour where women were last seen or found.
• At approximately 2 pm we stop again at Main and Hastings for speeches by community members, followed by a healing circle and drummers at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm, and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall from 4-5 pm.

3) VOLUNTEER: Please volunteer to support the march with setup, cleanup and more. We need approximately 84 volunteers (all genders welcome). Volunteers can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/AXMcnTp

4) DONATE: 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.

Thank you all for your support and commitment,
Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmemorialmarch/

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carol Martin: 236-512-4511

Evenlyne Youngchief: 778-888-1687

For French media, contact Mebrat Beyene: 604-836-6464

31st Annual Women’s Memorial March

31st Annual February 14 Women’s Memorial March

Monday February 14, 2022 from 10:30 am until 5 pm
Family & community gather at 10:30 am at Main & Hastings
March for public starts at 12 pm from Carnegie (Main and Hastings)

Unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səlil̓wətaʔɬ territories.

---

On Monday February 14, we will gather at 10:30 am at Main and Hastings where family members will speak in remembrance. At noon, the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside, with stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found. Speeches by community members are made again at Main and Hastings around 2 pm, followed by a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall from 4-5 pm. COVID protocols in effect: masks provided, and social distancing required.

RSVP and share on Facebook here: https://fb.me/e/2YP2M6VMS

Click here for the poster to download, and click here for the flyer for download.

memorial-march-poster-2022-1Download

---

memorial-march-flyer-2022Download

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 on unceded Coast Salish territories.

The memorial march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women, and all women’s and gender-diverse peoples’ lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many women and gender-diverse people from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and trans people 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 in the DTES because women – especially Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and trans people – 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.

SUPPORT THE MEMORIAL MARCH

There are many ways to support the Memorial March:

1) ATTEND: 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.

2) KNOW THE PROTOCOL: In a good way, we want to inform everyone about the protocol the march that has been in place for three decades:

• At 10:30 am, there will be a family and community remembrance at Main and Hastings.

• At noon, the elders and family members make a circle at Main and Hastings for the prayer circle and then the march proceeds.

• Women elders carrying medicines are at the front, followed by all women elders and family members and women drummers. The quilt made by loved ones in the DTES community is carried behind the family members and drummers.

• Everyone is invited to follow. We ask that you leave your organizational banners at home, signs honouring women’s lives are welcome.

• The march makes a numbers of stops along the way for ceremony to honour where women were last seen or found. Only authorized photography is permitted at the ceremonies.

• At approximately 2 pm we stop again at Main and Hastings for speeches by community members, followed by a healing circle and drummers at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm, and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall from 4-5 pm.

3) VOLUNTEER: Please volunteer to support the march with setup, cleanup and more. We need approximately 55 volunteers (all genders welcome). Volunteers can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/YgomSGW

4) DONATE: 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.

Thank you all for your support and commitment,
Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmemorialmarch/

29th Annual Feb 14 Women’s Memorial March

29th ANNUAL FEB 14 WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

Friday Feb 14th, 2020
Family and community members gather in remembrance at 10:30 am
March starts at 12 pm from Carnegie (Main and Hastings)
Unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories.

Click here for the Memorial march flyer 2020 to download, and click here for Memorial march poster 2020 for download

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.

The women’s memorial march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women and all women’s lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. 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.

On Friday Feb 14th 2020, we will gather at 10:30 am at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver) where family members speak in remembrance. Given space constraints, we ask the broader public to join us at noon, when the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside, with stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found; speeches by community activists at Main and Hastings; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 2:30 pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

This event is organized and led by women in the DTES 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.

* SUPPORT THE WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

There are many ways to support the Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March:

1) ATTEND: 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 Women’s Memorial March carries five banners only to honour the women. Sign honouring womens lives are welcome.

2) KNOW THE PROTOCOL: In a good way, we want to inform everyone about the protocol the march that has been in place for 28 years:

At 10:30 am there will a family and community remembrance in the Carnegie Theatre. This is not open to media or the broader public.

The media and broader public begins gathering at approximately 11:30 in front of Main and Hastings where territorial elders welcome us. At noon the elders and family members exit from the Carnegie Theatre and everyone is asked to make a circle at Main and Hastings for the prayer. The march proceeds at noon only when elders and family members have exited the Theatre and after the prayer circle.

The March is organized and led by women. Women elders carrying medicines are at the front, followed by all women elders and family members and women drummers. The quilt made by loved ones in the DTES community is carried behind the family members and drummers. Everyone is invited to follow. We ask that you leave your organizational banners at home, signs honouring women’s lives are welcome.

The march makes a numbers of stops along the way for ceremony to honour where women were last seen or found. There is no photography of the ceremonies. At approximately 2 pm we stop again at Main and Hastings for speeches by community activists, followed by a healing circle and drummers at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm, and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

3) VOLUNTEER: Please volunteer to support the march with setup, cleanup and more. We need approximately 50 volunteers. Volunteers can sign up here: http://signup.com/go/QowVVSf

4) PLAN: Plan a memorial march in your community. Last year, memorial marches were held in approximately twenty other cities and communities. Please email us the details so we can maintain communication, compile the information on our website, and build strength in our coordinated efforts.

5) DONATE: Please donate. The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is made possible by organizations and individuals like you. 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.

Thank you all for your support and commitment,
Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmemorialmarch/

28th ANNUAL FEB 14 WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

28th ANNUAL FEB 14 WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

Thursdsay Feb 14th, 2019
Family and community members gather in remembrance at 10:30 am
March starts at noon from Carnegie (Main and Hastings)
Unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories.

FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/275794656420729/

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.

The women’s memorial march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women and all women’s lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. 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.

On Thursday Feb 14th 2019, we will gather at 10:30 am at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver) where family members speak in remembrance. Given space constraints, we ask the broader public to join us at noon, when the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside, with stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found; speeches by community activists at Main and Hastings; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 2:30 pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

This event is organized and led by women in the DTES 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.

* SUPPORT THE WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

There are many ways to support the Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March:

1) ATTEND: 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 Women’s Memorial March carries five banners only to honour the women. Sign honouring womens lives are welcome.

2) KNOW THE PROTOCOL: In a good way, we want to inform everyone about the protocol the march that has been in place for 28 years:

At 10:30 am there will a family and community remembrance in the Carnegie Theatre. This is not open to media or the broader public.

The media and broader public begins gathering at approximately 11:30 in front of Main and Hastings where territorial elders welcome us. At noon the elders and family members exit from the Carnegie Theatre and everyone is asked to make a circle at Main and Hastings for the prayer. The march proceeds at noon only when elders and family members have exited the Theatre and after the prayer circle.

The March is organized and led by women. Women elders carrying medicines are at the front, followed by all women elders and family members and women drummers. The quilt made by loved ones in the DTES community is carried behind the family members and drummers. Everyone is invited to follow. We ask that you leave your organizational banners at home, signs honouring women’s lives are welcome.

The march makes a numbers of stops along the way for ceremony to honour where women were last seen or found. There is no photography of the ceremonies. At approximately 2 pm we stop again at Main and Hastings for speeches by community activists, followed by a healing circle and drummers at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm, and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

3) VOLUNTEER: Please volunteer to support the march with setup, cleanup and more. We need approximately 55 volunteers. Volunteers can sign up here: http://signup.com/go/QowVVSf

4) PLAN: Plan a memorial march in your community. Last year, memorial marches were held in approximately twenty other cities and communities. Please email us the details so we can maintain communication, compile the information on our website, and build strength in our coordinated efforts.

5) DONATE: Please donate. The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is made possible by organizations and individuals like you. 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.

Thank you all for your support and commitment,
Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmemorialmarch/

Annual Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March – DTES

Annual Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March – DTES

Wednesday Feb 14th, 2018
Family and community members gather in remembrance at 10:30 am
March starts at noon from Carnegie (Main and Hastings)

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/395467634210594/

On Web: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/annual-feb-14th-womens-memorial-march-dtes/

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.

The women’s memorial march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women and all women’s lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. 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.

On Wednesday Feb 14th 2018, we will gather at 10:30 am at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver) where family members speak in remembrance. Given space constraints, we ask the broader public to join us at noon, when the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside, with stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found; speeches by community activists at Main and Hastings; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 2:30 pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

This event is organized and led by women in the DTES 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.

* SUPPORT THE WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

There are many ways to support the Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March:

1) ATTEND: 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 Women’s Memorial March carries five banners only to honour the women. Sign honouring womens lives are welcome.

2) KNOW THE PROTOCOL: In a good way, we want to inform everyone about the protocol the march that has been in place for 27 years:

At 10:30 am there will a family and community remembrance in the Carnegie Theatre. This is not open to media or the broader public.

The media and broader public begins gathering at approximately 11:30 in front of Main and Hastings where territorial elders welcome us. At noon the elders and family members exit from the Carnegie Theatre and everyone is asked to make a circle at Main and Hastings for the prayer. The march proceeds at noon only when elders and family members have exited the Theatre and after the prayer circle.

The March is organized and led by women. Women elders carrying medicines are at the front, followed by all women elders and family members and women drummers. The quilt made by loved ones in the DTES community is carried behind the family members and drummers. Everyone is invited to follow. We ask that you leave your organizational banners at home, signs honouring women’s lives are welcome.

The march makes a numbers of stops along the way for ceremony to honour where women were last seen or found. There is no photography of the ceremonies. At approximately 2 pm we stop again at Main and Hastings for speeches by community activists, followed by a healing circle and drummers at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm, and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

3) VOLUNTEER: Please volunteer to support the march with setup, cleanup and more. We need approximately 55 volunteers. Volunteers can sign up here: http://signup.com/go/ZAisRjT

4) PLAN: Plan a memorial march in your community. Last year, memorial marches were held in approximately twenty other cities and communities. Please email us the details so we can maintain communication, compile the information on our website, and build strength in our coordinated efforts.

5) DONATE: Please donate. The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is made possible by organizations and individuals like you. 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.

Thank you all for your support and commitment,
Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmemorialmarch/

Annual Downtown Eastside Women’s Memorial March

WHAT: Press Conference for 27th Annual Women’s Memorial March
WHEN: Tuesday February 14 at 11:00 am
WHERE: Carnegie classroom, 3rd floor, Main and Hastings

MEDIA PROTOCOL: Please note there will be NO MEDIA PERMITTED in Carnegie Theatre during the family remembrance between 10:30 am to noon. Media may record the march that begins at noon at Main and Hastings, except NO recording of the ceremonies that take place during the march.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Carol Martin: 778-302-3367
Myrna Cranmer: 604-215-0264
Mabel Nipshank: 604-809-6504
Evelyne Youngchief: 778-888-1687
Rebecca Brass: 778-223-2843

For French media interviews, contact Cori Kelly: 778-709-6494

For general media inquiries or to set up further interviews, contact Harsha Walia: 778 885 0040

February 8, 2017 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is held on Valentine’s Day to honour the memory of all women from the Downtown Eastside who have died due to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual violence. Now in its 27th year, the march brings courage and commitment to end the violence that vulnerable women in the Downtown Eastside face on a daily basis.

The Women’s Memorial March Committee is hosting a press conference on Tuesday February 14th at 11 am in the Carnegie Center’s 3rd floor classroom. The march begins at noon on Main and Hastings.

The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee was founded when a woman was found murdered on Powell Street .For 27 years, the Committee has been a leading voice on the issue of violence against Indigenous women and has raised local, national, and international attention. Despite a national inquiry being launched on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the reality on the ground in the Downtown Eastside has not changed.

According to the Women’s Memorial March Committee “Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the Downtown Eastside still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Indigenous women disproportionately continue to go missing or be murdered with minimal action to address these tragedies or the systemic nature of gendered violence, poverty, racism, or colonialism.”

In Vancouver, friends and family members led by Indigenous women move through the DTES and stop at sites where women died or were last seen to offer prayers, medicines, and roses in remembrance.

27th Annual Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March

27th Annual Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March

Tuesday Feb 14th, 2017
Family and community members gather in remembrance at 10:30 am ( *** please note earlier start time ***)
March starts at noon from Carnegie (Main and Hastings)

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/154666328355768/

The first women’s memorial march was held in 1992 in response to the murder of a Coast Salish woman on Powell Street in Vancouver. Her name is not spoken today out of respect for the wishes of her family. 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.

Twenty seven years later, the women’s memorial march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women and all women’s lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. 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.

On Tuesday Feb 14th 2017, we will gather at 10:30 am at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver) where family members speak in remembrance. Given space constraints, we ask the broader public to join us at noon, when the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside, with stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found; speeches by community activists at Main and Hastings; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 2:30 pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

We continue to call for a national inquiry that is led by family and community members and that centers our experiences, need for healing, and quest for answers, concrete action, and meaningful justice.

This event is organized and led by women in the DTES 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.

* SUPPORT THE WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

There are many ways to support the Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March:

1) ATTEND: 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 Women’s Memorial March carries five banners only to honour the women. Sign honouring womens lives are welcome.

2) PLAN: Plan a memorial march in your community. Last year, memorial marches were held in approximately twenty other cities and communities. Please email us the details at hwalia8@gmail.com so we can maintain communication, compile the information on our website, and build strength in our coordinated efforts.

3) DONATE: Please donate. The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is made possible by organizations and individuals like you. 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.

Thank you all for your support and commitment,
Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmemorialmarch/

Press Release: Annual Downtown Eastside Women’s Memorial March

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Annual Downtown Eastside Women’s Memorial March

WHAT: Press Conference for 26th Annual Women’s Memorial March
WHEN: Sunday February 14 at 11:00 am
WHERE: Carnegie classroom, 3rd floor, Main and Hastings

MEDIA PROTOCOL: Please note there will be NO MEDIA PERMITTED in Carnegie Theatre during the family remembrance between 11am to noon. Media may record the march that begins at noon at Main and Hastings, except NO recording of the ceremonies that take place during the march.

February 8, 2016 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is held on Valentine’s Day to honour the memory of all women from the Downtown Eastside who have died due to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual violence. Now in its 26th year, the march brings courage and commitment to end the violence that vulnerable women in the Downtown Eastside face on a daily basis.

The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee is hosting a press conference at 11 am in the Carnegie Center’s 3rd floor classroom. The march begins at noon on Main and Hastings.

“The government’s current plan for the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women should focus on three key issues: the overall status of Indigenous women in Canada, addressing systemic and male violence against Indigenous women, and safe and respectful participation of families and loved ones including families of the heart, frontline workers and Indigenous feminist organizations,” says Fay Blaney, co-chair of the February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee.

The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee was founded in 1991 when a woman was found murdered on Powell Street. For 26 years, the Committee has been a leading voice on the issue and has raised local, national, and international attention on violence against women.

According to the Women’s Memorial March Committee “Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the Downtown Eastside still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Indigenous women disproportionately continue to go missing or be murdered with minimal action to address these tragedies or the systemic nature of gendered violence, poverty, racism, or colonialism.”

In Vancouver, friends and family members led by Indigenous women move through the DTES and stop at sites where women died or were last seen to offer prayers, medicines, and roses in remembrance.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Fay Blaney: 778-714-0161
Carol Martin: 604-445-9923
Myrna Cranmer: 604-215-0264
Mabel Nipshank: 604-809-6504
Evelyne Youngchief: 778-888-1687

– For French media interviews, contact Cori Kelly: 778-709-6494
– For general media inquiries or to set up further interviews, contact Harsha Walia: 778 885 0040

26th Annual Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March

26th Annual Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March

Sunday Feb 14th, 2016
March starts at noon from Carnegie (Main and Hastings)

Web: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/march-2/
FB RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/567879256695101/
Download full-colour poster here and half-page leaflet here

The first women’s memorial march was held in 1992 in response to the murder of a Coast Salish woman on Powell Street in Vancouver. Her name is not spoken today out of respect for the wishes of her family. 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.

Twenty six years later, the women’s memorial march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women and all women’s lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. 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.

On Sunday Feb 14th 2015, we will gather at 11 am at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver) where family members speak in remembrance. Given space constraints, we ask the broader public to join us at noon, when the march takes to the streets and proceeds through the Downtown Eastside, with stops to commemorate where women were last seen or found; speeches by community activists at Main and Hastings; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 2:30 pm; and finally a community feast at the Japanese Language Hall.

We continue to call for a national inquiry that is led by family and community members and that centers our experiences, need for healing, and quest for answers, concrete action, and meaningful justice.

This event is organized and led by women in the DTES 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.

* SUPPORT THE WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH

There are many ways to support the Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March:

1) ATTEND: Spread the word and join us (all genders welcome) to the Feb 14th march. We respectfully ask that you please do not bring your banners, flags, or leaflets as the Women’s Memorial March carries five banners only to honour the women.

2) PLAN: Plan a memorial march in your community. Last year, memorial marches were held in approximately twenty other cities and communities. Please email us the details at hwalia8@gmail.com so we can maintain communication, compile the information on our website, and build strength in our coordinated efforts.

3) DONATE: Please donate. The February 14th Women’s Memorial March is made possible by organizations and individuals like you. 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. Our donation letter is here: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/24th-annual-february-14th-womens-memorial-march-needs-your-help/

Thank you all for your support and commitment,
Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensmemorialmarch/

Downtown Eastside Women’s Group Responds to National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

TO ALL NEWS EDITORS
MEDIA ADVISORY

Downtown Eastside Women’s Group Responds to National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

What: Press Conference with February 14^th Women’s Memorial March Committee
When: Tuesday January 12 at 10 am
Where: Aboriginal Front Door, 384 Main Street, corner East Hastings, Vancouver.

The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee is hosting a press conference on Tuesday January 12 at 10 am at the Aboriginal Front Door with key issues and recommendations for a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

The following day, on January 13, members of the Committee and other family members, survivors and frontline organizations will be attending the pre-inquiry design process meeting in Vancouver convened by three federal Ministers.

The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee was founded in 1991 when a woman was found murdered on Powell Street. For 26 years, the Committee has been a leading voice on the issue and has raised local, national, and international attention on violence against Indigenous women. The February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee includes family members, frontline workers, close friends and loved ones with decades of in-depth knowledge and intimate experience.

Women in the Downtown Eastside lead an annual march on February 14th because women, especially Indigenous women, face physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual violence on a daily basis. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the Downtown Eastside still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss.

-30-

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Fay Blaney: 778-714-0161
Carol Martin: 604-445-9923
Myrna Cranmer: 604-215-0264
Mabel Nipshank: 604-809-6504
Evelyne Youngchief: 778-888-1687