content warning:

on the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women, canadian women share their survivor stories, poems, and calls to action. i thank them for their strength and sharing with me.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/06/survivors-share-their-experience-reflections-on-the-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women.html @_AngelaMarieMac @najwazebian & others

"At the age of nine, I lost my mother (and father) to the hands of my mother’s stalker while being held hostage in our home, waiting for the RCMP to come to save us. Help came six hours too late." - Fallon Farinacci, a proud Red River Manitoba Métis. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/06/survivors-share-their-experience-reflections-on-the-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women.html

"My name is Sofia Mac, and I’m a 15-year-old girl.

Ever since I can remember, it’s been clear to me that I will always be valued as less than a boy … because I’m a girl."

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/06/survivors-share-their-experience-reflections-on-the-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women.html

. @_AngelaMarieMac a survivor reflects on losing a friend who was murdered by a man they knew. Now she's the executive director of @EndingViolence.

"I stay committed to organizing at the intersections."
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/06/survivors-share-their-experience-reflections-on-the-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women.html

"When tensions got to their worst point, the next phase in this cycle would be the period of reconciliation where they apologize, yet simultaneously gaslight me into thinking that I was responsible for the abuse" @BlackDahliaYes dancer, sex worker advocate http://thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/06/survivors-share-their-experience-reflections-on-the-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women.html

Eva Simone is a Trans advocate, peer educator, community organizer and performing artist. More specifically, a Black, immigrant, Transgender-woman. She writes a poem titled "Inspiration?"
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/06/survivors-share-their-experience-reflections-on-the-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women.html

. @najwazebian, Lebanese-Canadian activist, author, speaker and educator. This is her poem, “Stop Asking Her Why" on violence at the intersections of religion, culture. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/06/survivors-share-their-experience-reflections-on-the-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women.html

as reported by @BKennedyStar, on the anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre, the stats on violence experience by women — especially in a year where lockdowns and restrictions causes more isolation.
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/12/06/we-havent-come-very-far-ywca-toronto-and-womens-shelters-call-on-government-to-address-root-causes-of-violence-against-women-on-polytechnique-massacre-anniversary.html