UFCW Canada Local 1000A members and staff collected more than 250 pairs of women’s shoes for a memorial tribute in rememberance of all the women who have lost their lives to violence. The tribute, which was displayed at UFCW Canada’s national headquarters, was held to raise awareness about violence against women.
“Thank you to everyone who participated in this memorial tribute—with your support, we are helping to raise awareness about the ongoing tragedy of violence against women in our society,” said Diana O’Brien, coordinator of Local 1000A’s WIN committee. “It was incredibly moving to see so many members step forward to help and to take part in the tribute. I look forward to a day where there is an end to violence against women.”
In addition to the shoes, Local 1000A members and staff also donated $600 for the memorial tribute.
“If we want to create a world free of gender-based violence, it is up to all of us, sisters and brothers, to come together and work together to make change happen,” said Pearl Sawyer, President of Local 1000A.
In total, UFCW Canada gathered almost 1,000 pairs of women’s boots and shoes. Shoes from the memorial tribute were donated to a women’s shelter which helps women with children escaping violence from their intimate partners.
The first-ever Shoe Memorial was held in Vancouver in 2003, to commemorate the 14 women students murdered at the Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique, as well as thousands of other women in Canada who have been victims of misogynist violence and murder. Since then, activists in other cities have joined the Shoe Memorial effort.
