December 6th - Marking 20 Years after the Montreal Massacre

20 years have gone by since that fateful day in Montreal at L'ecole Polytechnique where 14 women were hunted down and murdered because of the fact they were women... no other reason.

The murderer walked up and down the halls, from floor to floor, yelling "BRING ME THE WOMEN... I WANT THE WOMEN!!!" and systematically shot them to death.

20 years have gone by and we still struggle to end violence against women.

Check in your communities for events that are happening surrounding December 6th. There should be candlelight vigils, memorials, marches for peace, etc. Please join in and pledge to take action, so that 20 more years from now, we can see a drastic reduction (hopefully an elimination) of cases of violence against women.

Posted below are the details of the Halifax Community driven events.

• December 5th - 1 to 3 p.m. - Paula Ann Gallant Memorial - laying of 40 wreaths, March of Hope to BLT Elementary School - 22-24 James Street, Timberlea
• December 6th - 4:30 p.m. - Memorial Vigil for Tanya Brooks - St. Patrick's-Alexandra School - 2277 Maitland Street, Halifax
• December 6th - 5:30 p.m. - "Not so Silent" Vigil - Halifax Public Library Lawn followed by the "Not so Silent" Community Event and Potluck (see below).
• December 6th - 6:00 p.m. - Sexton Campus Vigil - Sexton Alumni Lounge - 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax
• December 6th, 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) - "Not so Silent" Community Event and Potluck - St. Matthew's Church Hall - 1479 Barrington Street, Halifax

For those of you on Facebook, you can join the Halifax "Not so Silent" vigil Facebook group my clicking on the link.

Write the Government for Bryony House

Bryony House is one of the Transition Houses in Nova Scotia that provides live saving services for women who are seeking shelter from domestic violence.

Bryony Houses is running a major deficit that has resulted in cuts to their program / staff. We need to demand that the government works to rectify this immediately. The outreach program that is no longer in existence at Bryony House in it's full capacity literally does save lives. We cannot put a price on that.

Although the NDP government has moved forward much needed funding that was planned in year two of their budgets to 2010, we have to keep in mind what that really means. $500,000.00 divided by all the transition houses and women's shelters in Nova Scotia = a drop in the bucket ($25k each - approx). Consider that Bryony House is over $120k in debt right now... the NDP budgeted amount will do nothing to alleviate that.

The Friends of Transition Houses Network does not view this as a relief. If this is happening at Bryony House, the oldest and largest house in Nova Scotia... just what trials and tribulations will the other houses in our province be in? Let's not sit by and wait for that to happen.

You will find a letter addressed to Premier Dexter on the top right hand side of this page. I encourage you to take this letter as a template, use your own words, sign it and send it to Premier Darrell Dexter, the Minister of Community Services Denise Peterson-Rafuse, and your local MLA. Demand action for Bryony House now to reinstate the Outreach Program, cover off their debt and together we can continue to strive to ensure there is sufficient funding for the future of all transition houses.

We have already seen results from the Nova Scotia Government in moving funding up, something we pushed for... let's continue on and strive to strengthen and secure these imperative services for the women and children in Nova Scotia who need it.

Take Back the Night and Sisters in Spirit Vigil This Weekend

Please join us at the Take Back the Night Rally & March this Friday Evening. Look for the Friends of Transition Houses Logo OR a giant green ribbon to walk with others from our network.

The Friends of Transition Houses Network will be at the Take Back the Night March on Friday, October 2, 2009 in Halifax.

Please join us in raising our voices regarding the lack of stable and secure funding for Transition Houses.

Please spread the word among your own networks and in your own community.

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT rally and march for women and children

When: Friday October 2nd starting at 7pm

Where: Victoria Square Park, Halifax

MC: National Spoken Word champion, El Jones Speakers, song, performers

What: Take Back the Night is a rally and march by, for, and about,women and children to reclaim the night from the threat of sexual violence.

Synopsis of what to expect: This year, women and their supporters will meet at Victoria Park(corner of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street) for 7 p.m. where a rally will be held. Our MC El Jones and speakers, performers, and song will pump up the crowd. After the scheduled program, women and children will march through the streets of downtown Halifax, passing the Citadel Hill, downtown bars, the Palace and the HRM Police Station. This march assertively reclaims the right for women to walk independently, and free from violence, rape, shouting obscenities, oppression and fear.

After the march, there will be a reception at theMicmac Native Friendship Centre with a healing ritual and a vegetarian serving.

Allies March: a gender inclusive space to resist sexual violence

We are encouraging people of all genders to take part in the allies march that will follow behind the women's march. The allies march is intended as a means for allies to meet, foster, and encourage additional feminist activism. The allies will show solidarity to women marching by carrying signs and banners expressing the right for women to walk the streets at anytime, day or night. Small tea lights will be made available (while supplies last), but feel free to bring your own light for the march. Bring family,friends --all welcome!

Why We March:

To stand together as women, refusing to be silent about sexual violence.

To state our refusal to take responsibility for sexual harassment, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, incest and battering, and recognizing that only the perpetrator of these crimes is to blame.

To celebrate the steps we are taking to support each other and to create change To experience the freedom of what it is like to walk at night and not be dependant on the protection of men.

To remind each other that as individuals we have strength and together we are even stronger.

To remember our sisters who have survived, and those who have been taken from us, as a result of sexual violence.

To shout out our desire to live freely without the threat and fear of violence.

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SISTERS IN SPIRIT VIGIL: Ending Violence Against Aboriginal Women

Location: Black Rock Beach, Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia

When: Sunday, October 4th, 11:30am

What: To honour and remember the over 500 missing and/or murdered women in Canada, join us for a vigil, a talking circle, and community building with speakers and song. Refreshments to follow at the Micmac native FriendshipCentre.

Background: According to the Native Women's Association of Canada, there are 511 documented cases (and counting) of missing or murdered aboriginal women in the last 20years. On September 15th 2008, A group of walkers from British Columbia arrived in Ottawa to present to Stephen Harper over 3000 names of undocumented missing or murdered aboriginal women. In our own community, we have lost too many of our aboriginal sisters to violence.

Last Spring, near Mother's day, we lost Tanya Brooks: mother to five children, sister, daughter. Right now, our brothers and sisters in Burnt Church reserve are desperately trying to find their beloved daughter, 16 year old Hilary Bonnel. She went missing on the 5th of September and is presumed to beabducted.Violence against aboriginal women is too big of a problem to ignore.

Our communities need to be aware, and the violence needs to end. Halifax's 2nd Annual Sisters In Spirit Vigil is being held in solidarity with 31 other cities across Turtle Island that are organizing simultaneous Vigils on Sunday October 4th. Please attend this important vigil for all ages. There will be a ceremony and speakers from local support groups and community members. The event is being organized by the Dalhousie Women's Centre, Alana Lee, with support from Sisters are the Medicine and the Micmac Native Friendship Centre.

For more information, please contact:
Alanna Lee, Dalhousie Native Student Association. 293-1330 dylkenz@hotmail.com
David Parker, CKDU 88.1 FM campus and community radio. 494-2585. david@ckdu.ca
Elizabeth McCormack, Coordinator, Dalhousie Women's Centre 494-2432 dwc@dal.ca

What's New

The launch of our Green Ribbon Campaign yesterday was a great mesh with the announcement in yesterday Throne Speech. The green ribbon signifying renewal and abundance “A renewal in the way public monies are distributed and a renewal in the ways that government and communities interact”, this really echoes my excitement and sense of hope I felt when the NDP won to form the majority government in Nova Scotia, finally posibility of changes.

The funding that was moved up to 2010 is a fantastic and promising signal to those women and children who need to use Transition House services. We will continue to work on restoring the services lost for Bryony House and strive to ensure other houses will not lose those live saving services, such as the imminent cuts at Cape Breton Transition House.

Join us today for the Green Ribbon Campaign launch

Join us today at noon in front of the Nova Scotia Provincial Legislature for the Green Ribbon Campaign launch.

We are raising awareness about the operational funding for transition houses, which has been frozen for over a decade, through the launch of our Green Ribbon Campaign. We will be tying bouquets of green ribbons to the fence around the legislature. We are using the colour green to signify renewal and abundance.

A renewal in the way public monies are distributed and a renewal in the way government and community interact. We must all work to create a society that equally shares its abundance.

We cannot and must not allow our social services to be eroded for they are the foundation of a just society.

Please join us in sending a message to the government.

Response Green Ribbon Launch Invitation

Greetings!

Thank you so much for inviting me to participate in the Green Ribbon Launch on Thursday. I am very much a supporter of the transition houses and want to thank you for keeping the legislature accountable. I will check to see if one of our other ministers or licentiates can represent the church.

We will announce it to the church family tonight at our mid -week service and will certainly lift the effort in prayer.

Grace & Peace,
Rev. B.

Rev. Rhonda Y. Britton
Senior Pastor, Cornwallis Street Baptist Church
5457 Cornwallis Street
Box 47046 - RPO Gottingen Street
Halifax, NS B3K 5Y2
ph. (902) 429-0690fax (902) 429-0886
www.cornwallisbaptist.ca
"Let Jesus shine in 2009!"

An Invitation to the Green Ribbon Campaign Launch

Friends of Transition Houses Network launches Green Ribbon Campaign

The Friends of Transition Houses Network, a group of allies joined by their common interest in ensuring the safety and security of women and children fleeing domestic abuse, are gathering at the Nova Scotia Provincial Legislature at 12 noon on Thursday, September 17, 2009. We will be at the main entrance facing Hollis Street and the event will take place regardless of the weather.

We are raising awareness about the operational funding for transition houses, which has been frozen for over a decade, through the launch of our Green Ribbon Campaign. We will be tying bouquets of green ribbons to the fence around the legislature. We are using the colour green to signify renewal and abundance.

A renewal in the way public monies are distributed and a renewal in the way government and community interact. We must all work to create a society that equally shares its abundance. We cannot and must not allow our social services to be eroded for they are the foundation of a just society.

Please join us in sending a message to the government.


For more information contact:
Lori Walton, Chair of the Friends of Transition Houses
219.0349 Or loriwalton@eastlink.ca