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.

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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

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Press Release for 25th Annual Women’s Memorial March

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Annual Downtown Eastside Women’s Memorial March

WHAT: Press Conference for 25th Annual Women’s Memorial March
WHEN: Saturday February 14 at 9:00 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 10, 2015 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is held on Valentine’s Day each year 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 25th year, the march brings courage and commitment to end the violence that vulnerable women in the DTES face on a daily basis.

The Women’s Memorial March Committee is hosting a press conference at 9 am in the Carnegie Center’s 3rd floor classroom. The march begins at noon on Main and Hastings.

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Press Release: 23rd Annual Women’s Memorial March

TO ALL NEWS EDITORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Annual Women’s Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women

WHAT: Press Conference for 23rd Annual Women’s Memorial March
WHEN: Friday Feb 14th at 9:00 am
WHERE: Carnegie classroom, 3rd floor, Main and Hastings

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

February 4, 2014 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is held on Valentine’s Day each year to honour the memory of all women from the Downtown Eastside who have died due to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual violence in any form. Now in its 23rd year, the march brings courage and commitment to remember and honour murdered and missing women, and to end the violence that vulnerable women in the DTES face on a daily basis.

The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is hosting a press conference at 9 am in the Carnegie Center’s 3rd floor classroom at 9 am. The march begins at noon on Main and Hastings.

“We are here to honour and remember the women, and we are here because we are failing to protect women from poverty and systemic exploitation, abuse and violence. We are here in sorrow and in anger because the violence continues each and every day and the list of missing and murdered women gets longer every year,” says Marlene George, Memorial March Committee organizer.

March organizer Mona Woodward agrees. “Why is it such an uphill battle to get justice for missing and murdered women and their families and communities? We are calling for a national and international public inquiry led by family and community members. We need political will at all levels of government to address these tragedies as well as ongoing gendered violence, poverty, and racism.”

Marches will also be held in at least 10 other cities including Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Kelowna. Full list here: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/national/

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:
Marlene George 778 833 3094
Mona Woodward 778 241 8440

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

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/

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Women mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women with Calls for Justice for Missing and Murdered Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: ALL NEWS EDITORS

Women mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women with Calls for Justice for Missing and Murdered Women

WHAT: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
WHEN: Friday December 6th from 1-3 pm
WHERE: Circle at Georgia and Granville

MEDIA: Marlene George: 778 833 3094; Mona Woodward 778 241 8440.
To arrange additional interviews call Harsha Walia 778 -885-0040

December 3, 2013 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Missing Women’s Memorial March Committee will be marking the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women by gathering on Friday December 6th from 1-3 pm outside the Federal buildings at Granville and Georgia.

According to organizer Marlene George, “We will be gathering just like we did one year ago when the sham provincial women’s inquiry shut out and marginalized the voices and experiences of family members, DTES residents, Indigenous communities, and women’s groups. And we are returning here again because, to date, the provincial government continues to stall on following up on the inquiry’s recommendations.”

Mona Woodward, member of the Missing Women’s Coalition, agrees. “Why is it such an uphill battle to get justice for missing and murdered women and their families and communities? We are calling for a national and international public inquiry led by family and community members. We need immediate compensation for family members and political will at all levels of government to address these tragedies as well as the systemic nature of gendered violence, poverty, racism, and colonialism.”

“We are gathering in sorrow to honour and remember the women. We are gathering in anger because women continue to go missing or be murdered. We are gathering with a commitment to justice, healing and concrete action to end violence against our beloved sisters.” says George.

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/235143096646429/

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Media Release: Annual Women’s Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: ALL NEWS EDITORS

Annual Women’s Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women

WHAT: 22nd Annual Women’s Memorial March Press Conference
WHEN: Thursday Feb 14th at 9:00 am
WHERE: Carnegie classroom, 3rd floor, Main and Hastings

MEDIA PROTOCOL: Please note there will be NO MEDIA in Carnegie Theatre during the family remembrance between 11am to noon. Media may record the march at noon, except no recording of ceremonies during the march.

February 8, 2013 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is held on Valentine’s Day each year to honour the memory of women from the Downtown Eastside who have died due to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual violence. Now in its 22nd year, the march brings courage and commitment to remember and honour murdered and missing women, and to end the violence that vulnerable women in the DTES face on a daily basis.

“We are here to honour and remember the women, and we are here because we are failing to protect women from poverty and systemic exploitation, abuse and violence. We are here in sorrow and in anger because the violence continues each and every day and the list of missing and murdered women gets longer every year,” says Marlene George, Memorial March Committee organizer.

In December 2011, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women announced that it was launching an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. This announcement came shortly after the Women’s Memorial March Committee and the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center made joint submissions in October 2011 to the UN.

This year, the Women’s Memorial March occurs in the context of the provincial missing women’s inquiry, which marginalized the voices and experiences of DTES residents, Indigenous communities, and women’s groups. In December 2012, the international organization Human Rights Watch called on Canada to appoint a national commission of inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.

“We are calling for a national public inquiry and continue to seek justice internationally with our submissions at the level of the UN,” continues George.

Marches will also be held in at least fifteen other cities including Edmonton, Calgary, Hagersville, Kelowna, Lebret, Montreal, Oshawa, Ottawa, Prince George, Regina, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Sault St Marie, Victoria, Winnipeg. 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:
Marlene George: 778 833 3094
Mona Woodward 778 241 8440
Lisa Yellow Quill 604 618 1061
Cori Kelly (French) 778 709 6494
For general media inquiries, contact Harsha Walia 778 885 0040

Website: https://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/

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Media Release: Their Spirits Live Within Us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: ALL NEWS EDITORS

Justice for Missing and Murdered Women in the Downtown Eastside:
Their Spirits Live Within Us

WHAT: Monday February 13th from 9:30 am to 2 pm
Murdered Women, Missing Justice
Rally against Sham Provincial Missing Women’s Inquiry 701 West Georgia (Georgia and Granville)

WHAT: Tuesday February 14th
21st Annual Women’s Memorial March
Press Conference on Tues Feb 14th at 10:30 am in Carnegie Patio
Please note there will be NO MEDIA in Carnegie Theatre during the family remembrance between noon-1 pm. Media may record the march at 1 pm, except no recording of ceremonies during the march.

 

February 10, 2012 VANCOUVER, Coast Salish Territories- The February 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March is held on Valentine’s Day each year to honour the memory of women from Downtown Eastside who have died due to the violence of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual abuse. Now in its 21st year, the March is an immensely powerful women’s action that brings courage and commitment to remember and honour murdered and missing women, and to end the violence that vulnerable women in the DTES face on a daily basis.

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DTES Women’s Organizations Release UN Submission Details

TO ALL NEWS EDITORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE UN SUBMISSION DETAILS;
Submission includes urgent appeal about discriminatory conduct of BC Missing Women’s Inquiry

December 14, 2011 Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories– In the past twenty four hours, the positive and much-awaited news has been released that the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women initiated a significant official inquiry process into the murders and disappearances of women and girls across Canada in October 2011.

Two women’s groups based in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, a neighbourhood known as the ‘ground zero’ for missing and murdered women, who are mostly Indigenous women, are releasing details of the submissions they made in October 2011 under Article 8 of the Optional Protocol of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

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Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Women’s Memorial March Committee Announce Non Participation In Sham Inquiry, Say Will Rally on First Day of Hearings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: ALL NEWS EDITORS

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Corinthia Kelly: 778 709 6494
Alice Kendall: 778 322 4594
Harsha Walia: 778 885 0040
Carol Martin: 778 322 3069

Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Women’s Memorial March Committee Announce Non Participation In Sham Inquiry, Say Will Rally on First Day of Hearings

Monday October 3, Vancouver Coast Salish Territories –Calling the Missing Women’s Commission of Inquiry a “disgrace” and an “insult to women in the Downtown Eastside”, the Coalition of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC) and Feb 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee (WMMC) have announced today that they will not be endorsing or participating in the Inquiry.

The Coalition is also announcing a rally at the beginning of the hearings on October 11th, 2011 at 9:30 am in front of at 701 West Georgia. They will be denouncing the Sham Inquiry and will call for a new fair, just, and inclusive Inquiry that centres the voices and experiences and leadership of women, particularly Indigenous women, in the DTES.

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Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Women’s Memorial March Committee Object to Missing Women’s Commission’s Latest Amicus Proposal

OPEN LETTER TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALLIES, COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, LAWYERS, AND MEDIA

Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Women’s Memorial March Committee Object to Missing Women’s Commission’s Latest Amicus Proposal

August 5^th 2011  Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories – The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Feb 14^th Women’s Memorial March Committee strongly object to the Missing Women’s Commission latest proposal to retain and fund one or two independent lawyers (amici) to “present the perspectives of the Downtown Eastside community and Aboriginal women.”

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