Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
It was 20 years ago today, that a deranged gunman murdered 14 young women at Montreal’s l’Ecole Polytechnique.
Special remembrance ceremonies taking place all over the region and the country including one special event in Owen Sound at Division Street United Church begriming at 6:30 PM.
Manager of the Mens Program Grey Bruce Joachim Ostertag says there will be a church service, followed by a concert by singer Evelyn Perry, who sang about the Montreal massacre at this year’s Summerfolk.
Ostertag says a lot has changed in the past 20 years when it comes to violence against women.
He says today we call it exactly what it is, assault and he says men today are more willing to talk about the problem and actually seek help and counselling to try and end the cycle of violence.
Ostertag also says the Justice system has also changed so that people convicted of violence against women are getting tougher sentences.
Patricia Otberry is the Child Youth co ordinator of the Womens Centre in Owen Sound and says they have seen an increase in the number of women making use of the shelter this past year.
She says there is no definite reason for that but she suspects the downturn in the economy is one of the reasons there has been a bit of an upswing locally.
Otberry says the shelter operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week with staff always on hand to offer help for women who need it.