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Day of Remembrance set for December 6

Envision Counselling and Support will use the week of December 6, 2011 to highlight the need to address the issue of partner abuse throughout our community.

Envision Counselling and Support will use the week of December 6, 2011 to highlight the need to address the issue of partner abuse throughout our community. This day also allows individuals and communities to dedicate a day to reflect on all the women, men and children who live daily with the threat of violence.

Envision counsellor Charline Doney explains that December 6 will be a day to remember as it marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of fourteen young women at l'Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal by Marc Lepine.

"The Montreal Massacre opened our eyes concerning violence against women, however it is still unsettling that the death toll of women being murdered continues to rise annually", stated Doney.

According to the Government of Canada statistics, on average, 178 females were killed every year between 1994 and 2008, in 2008 there were 146 female victims of homicide in Canada. Of these, 45 were victims of spousal homicide. "An interesting note", said Doney, "in cases of female partners killing male partners, there is often evidence that the male partner was the initial aggressor and that her lethal action was 'defensive'. Teenage and young women in abusive relationships incur the greatest risk of being killed by their partners. The risk of spousal homicide is far greater in common-law relationships than in registered marriages".

Envision encourages the community to pick up a purple ribbon in memory of all women who have died as a result of violence. Doney lists things you can do in your community to help stop violence. Speak up about violence in your community! Teach girls to empower themselves! Make sure your workplace, home, and community are safe for women and girls. If you or someone you know who is being affected by violence please call the Weyburn office at 842-8821. There is also a confidential email you can access through www.envsioncounselling centre.com. All counselling services are free of charge.

Grace United Church will be holding a candlelight service on Tuesday, December 6 at 7 p.m. to recognize the day.