Missing and murdered women remembered

Almost 100 people gathered in front of the Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse yesterday to remember more than 500 missing or murdered women across Canada.

"At this time there are 500 confirmed missing or murdered women in Canada but I have heard numbers up to 3,000," said Bonnie Baranski, an organizer for the vigil.

Students from St. Mary's Collegiate, St. Basil Secondary and the Urban Aboriginal school joined Womyn for Justice at the event.

They lined the north side of Queen Street in front of the courthouse, holding red and white hearts marked with names of murdered and missing women.

A traditional women's drum group played hand drums and sang Ojibway songs.

Vigil participants along the street shouted and waved as passing drivers honked their horns in support over the lunch hour.

This is the 18th year of annual events on or around Valentine's day across the country organized to help keep these women in people's hearts.

"What we're here for is to make sure that every family who has an empty seat at their table, whose family circle is broken, is remembered," said Baranski.

"Women are going missing and they're never heard of again," she said. "Imagine the gaping hole that leaves in the family."

Baranski said that 80 percent of these women are aboriginal and, because of the closeness of their communities, the whole community is deeply affected by their disappearance or death.

Women need to be heard when they make a complaint, especially against a violent partner, Baranski said.

"All too often a woman will go in and get a restraining order against the man," she said. "But somehow he still manages to get in and murder her."

After the vigil, participants were invited back to St. Mary's College to have chili and share their thoughts on the experience.

Baranski also reminded everyone to come out to a free film festival at Sault College on March 6, 7 and 8.

The Womyntribe Film Festival is being organized to celebrate International Women's Day, Baranski said.