Remember another kind of hero
It is not unusual to stand in Victoria Park in the cold to remember heros. Every November 11, members of Cobourg Legion gather around the cenotaph to respectfully honour those soldiers who died in battle to protect our freedoms.
Another group will be gathering in the same spirit on December 6 to honour their fallen friends. On the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, citizens from across Northumberland will come together at the Gathering Place on the east side of Church Street near the lake where a monument will soon be erected to honour women who have died at the hands of abusers.
And, while the cairn is yet to be built, it certainly exists in the hearts and minds of those particiating at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, as they remember how on December 6, 1989, Marc Lepine entered the Ecole Polytechnique at the University of Montreal, gathered up a group of young women and shot 14 of them dead in cold blood.
This year, the remembrance ceremony will hold a special signficiance for people supporting the TAAP - The Abuse Awareness Project, a community-based group made up of colunteers. The mission is to increase awareness of abuse in NOrthumberland County. They hope to inspire courage in those trapped in teh cycle of abuse and to commemorate those who have died. But, they also wish to honour those who live with the motional and psycial scars of abuse.
The event will include a special drumming demonstration, including the Peaceful Arts Drummers.
"It is important today, Dec 6th, that we come together first to grieve and to mourn and also to heal. Let us remember the galvanizing incident from 17 years ago, when mourning led to outrage and anger turned to action," said Ilona Kaltenhauser, the event's organizer.
Another group will be gathering in the same spirit on December 6 to honour their fallen friends. On the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, citizens from across Northumberland will come together at the Gathering Place on the east side of Church Street near the lake where a monument will soon be erected to honour women who have died at the hands of abusers.
And, while the cairn is yet to be built, it certainly exists in the hearts and minds of those particiating at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, as they remember how on December 6, 1989, Marc Lepine entered the Ecole Polytechnique at the University of Montreal, gathered up a group of young women and shot 14 of them dead in cold blood.
This year, the remembrance ceremony will hold a special signficiance for people supporting the TAAP - The Abuse Awareness Project, a community-based group made up of colunteers. The mission is to increase awareness of abuse in NOrthumberland County. They hope to inspire courage in those trapped in teh cycle of abuse and to commemorate those who have died. But, they also wish to honour those who live with the motional and psycial scars of abuse.
The event will include a special drumming demonstration, including the Peaceful Arts Drummers.
"It is important today, Dec 6th, that we come together first to grieve and to mourn and also to heal. Let us remember the galvanizing incident from 17 years ago, when mourning led to outrage and anger turned to action," said Ilona Kaltenhauser, the event's organizer.
So far this year, in Ontario alone 31 women and children
have been murdered by a partner or ex-partner.
It is ridiculous to think we can live in a world without violence. Yet, it can be our goal as a community. Our job each day is to speak out against any type of abusive behaviour we see from others or ourselves.
It is good to see Victoria Park is a place to play and be joyful. It is also a spot where we are serious and mindful when we remember those who give so much, only to lose their life. They are all heros.
posted by Robert Washburn at
10:13 PM
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