RIVER HEBERT – Ninety-year-old Irene Richards worked silently as the women surrounding her read passages explaining the symbolism of her weaving.
The occasion was Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, recognized for the third straight year in River Hebert. The event took place at the United Church hall, under the leadership of the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada.
The event was held at 11 a.m. for about 70 congregations around the country, in remembrance of the 14 women murdered in Montreal on Dec. 6, 1989, according to Pam Harrison, who led the service.
“Focusing on violence against women in Canada is one part of it, but the global focus (this year) is around the little girl in Pakistan who was shot because she wanted an education,” said Harrison. “We’re trying to get the next generation of women to know that it’s not just family violence, it’s violence against women in general, and it’s global.”
Taking part in the service, which drew an average-size crowd of women on the Thursday morning, were three students from River Hebert Elementary School.
The year’s theme for this year’s ecumenical event was “Building Hope for Community.”
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