November 25 – December 10, 2023

To create awareness and stress the importance of this Campaign the following will take place throughout the Niagara Peninsula.

Wrapped in Courage Flag Raising

• Regional Municipality of Niagara (Fri. Nov.24 @ 10am)  – both the Wrapped in Courage flag and the MMIWG2S+ flag will be raised
• Town of Pelham at MCC (Fri. Nov.24 @ 10am) – included will be an installation of REDresses, a blessing and drum presentation by Josephine Lavelley Onandaga from 6 Nations.
• City of Welland (Fri. Nov. 24 @ 10am)
• City of Port Colborne (Fri. Nov. 24 @ 10am)
• Town of Fort Erie (Fri. Nov. 24 @ 11:30am)
• City of Niagara Falls (Friday Nov. 24 @ 1:30pm)

REDress Displays

CFUW Welland and District will create REDress displays in various locations in Welland, Pelham, Port Colborne and Wainfleet during the 16 Days of Activism from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 to acknowledge gender-based violence against MMIWG2S+, remembering those who died and honouring those who survive and their families.

Illumination of:

• the Niagara Falls, Nov 25 for 15 minutes from 10pm to 10:15.
• the Port Colborne Town Hall cupola @ dusk Nov.2
• the Welland Main St. Bridge @ dusk Nov.25

Other Events

• Thursday, Nov.23 @ 6:30 -7:30 pm Lincoln Pelham Libraries will host a seminar presented by Gillian’s Place entitled Understanding Gender-Based Violence @ Rittenhouse Library, Vineland. Must register on the library website.
• Friday, November 24 @ 9:00 pm, the Zonta Clubs of Niagara Falls and St. Catharines will celebrate the beginning of the 16 Days at Table Rock Welcome Centre featuring speakers, entertainment and refreshments and a short walk to the falls (candles will be provided) to watch the Falls turn orange at 10 PM. For more information, see the Zonta Women’s website.
• Saturday, November 25, 10 am – noon, CFUW Ontario Council Speakers Series, Intimate Partner Violence, with panelists, Erin Lee from Interval House, and Pam Cross, Advocacy Director, Luke’s Place. Registration and information click here.
• Tuesday, Dec. 5 @ 6:30 pm (ON ZOOM) CFUW Welland and District will host a speak on Human Trafficking What We Need to Know by Shelley Walker of Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada. Please register at [email protected]
• Wednesday, December 6^th, 8:45 am, Brock University will hold a National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women Memorial Vigil, in the Rankin Atrium. For more info CLICK HERE

Community members are encouraged to wear PURPLE (Wrapped in Courage colour) and/or ORANGE (UN colour) during November, to help spread awareness.

Gillian’s Place has Gillian’s Place bandanas for sale and Birchway Niagara has purple scarves for sale. Inquiries can be made at each agency.

The men in your lives can be informed about the international White Ribbon campaign against Gender based violence against women and trans and be encouraged to wear a white ribbon during the 16 days.  In Canada, the White Ribbon day is DEC. 6 2023.

The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is honoured to announce the return of The Red Dress Exhibit: If Only These Dresses Could Tell Their Story. This important exhibit will be remounted in Robertson Theatre at the FirstOntario PAC and will run Wednesday 9 November to Sunday 13 November 2022.

Created by Michele-Elise Burnett (Métis MNO citizen with Algonquin roots, Bear Clan), Artistic Director of Celebration of Nations and President of Kakekalanicks, and in collaboration with affected families, Elders, and local Indigenous community members, this exhibit honours Indigenous voices silenced far too soon and shares the untold stories of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 2Spirit (MMIWG2S) from Niagara and Western New York with a powerful and surreal collection of 13 suspended red dresses adorned in ribbons, beadwork, appliqués and paint in an immersive gallery setting.

“The exhibit is intended to increase awareness for the epidemic of the ongoing horrific systemic racial crimes targeting Indigenous women and girls; to remember the lost lives of the victims; to teach; to give Indigenous women a voice; to inspire a new cross-cultural generation based on inclusivity, compassion, love and; to collectively offer the MMIWG2S our love, gratitude, and create a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment for Indigenous Peoples,” says exhibit creator and curator, Michele-Elise Burnett. “With Indigenous women being victims of murder more than 10 times the national average, this exhibit is about empathic LOVE.”

Based on the 13 Grandmother Moons and the cycle of the women, The Red Dress Exhibit will feature stories of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls and 2Sprit (MMIWG2S) from Indigenous Peoples whose loved ones fell victim to these crimes. Each red dress will be as unique and beautiful as the MMIWG2S it represents, and the ribbons sewn on the dresses will be the keepers of their story. This exhibit will include a produced audio documentary for each dress, narrative signage, and an interpretive brochure. Attendees should bring earbuds for their phones to listen to audio documentary as they walk through the space.

Violet Printup of Tuscarora Nations, an Indigenous youth collaborator on the exhibit said, “Missing and murdered Indigenous women is an epidemic that has recently come to light, but Indigenous peoples have been facing this since the beginning of exploration. With The Red Dress Exhibit, I want to bring awareness to all people, but also be able to help combat, as well as bring an end to MMIWG2SG.”

All are welcome to the opening reception on Wednesday 9 November at 6pm in the Algoma Lobby at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines.

EXHIBIT HOURS
Robertson Theatre, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,
250 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE RED DRESS EXHIBIT CONTAINS SENSITIVE CONTENT THAT COULD EVOKE A STRONG EMOTIONAL REACTION, AND IT ALSO MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. PERSONAL AND PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

There will also be a special presentation of the documentary Finding Dawn on Sat 12 Nov at 3 pm in The Film House at the PAC.  Acclaimed Métis filmmaker Christine Welsh’s compelling documentary puts a human face on a national tragedy – the epidemic of missing or murdered Indigenous women in Canada. Finding Dawn takes a journey into the heart of Indigenous women’s experience, from Vancouver’s skid row, down the Highway of Tears in northern BC, and on to Saskatoon, where the murders and disappearances of these women remain unsolved.

Highlights of some Events in Niagara Region:

November 25th, 11 am – Flag Raising at Niagara Region Headquarters on Schmon Parkway  – join President Maureen Shantz at this event. It is open to the public. All are welcome. Show support for the Region’s 16 Days campaign.

November 25th, 5pm – Lighting of the Main St Bridge in Welland – join CFUW Wellend & District on the east side of the bridge as it lights up in orange.

SIGNATURE EVENT – Sunday December 5th at PAC downtown St Catharines Film House at 4 pm. Live screening of movie “Beyond December 6th” followed by a panel discussion. Event is free but you need to “purchase” a ticket – Click Here. All COVID protocols in place. Hope to see you there!