Recognizing National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6

The City of Saskatoon will honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6 by lowering the flags in Civic Square to half-mast and encouraging employees to wear a white ribbon or moose hide pin.

The White Ribbon Campaign represents a pledge to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women and girls. The Moose Hide Campaign, created by an Indigenous father and daughter team, calls on men and boys to stand up against violence, especially against Indigenous women and children.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established by the Government of Canada in 1991 to commemorate December 6, 1989, when fourteen women were murdered at the École Polytechnique de Montréal in a horrific act of gender-based violence.

On this day, the City honours the lives of Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte and the countless women, girls and gender-diverse people who continue to experience gender-based violence.

Saskatchewan continues to have the highest rates of family and intimate partner violence in Canada. Across the country, Indigenous women and girls are killed over six times more often than non-Indigenous women. These are not just statistics—they represent our neighbours, families and community members.

These conversations are important and so is understanding what supports are available. If you or someone you know is in an abusive situation and could use support, visit https://abuse.sk.211.ca. Saskatchewan 211 has an incredible list of resources for many types of violent or abusive situations and can connect individuals with the supports nearest them. As always, if a person is in immediate danger, call 911.