Today started in a wonderful way, (considering I got 0 sleep again). After breakfast at the university we walked en masse to the nearby Shaw Center for the second day in a row. This is where we have the morning plenary sessions and speakers. This morning we had the Dandelion Dance Performance Company perform about 8 interpretive pieces for us. They are a unique troupe; made up of young women from all walks of life, builds and experiences. Many of their pieces come about as the results of personal beliefs, things that matter to them. They defy social pressures to be perfectly made up, have socially acceptable bodies, and they do pieces that speak out loud. The dances today covered hunger, children’s rights, inclusion etc. A very powerful and uplifting start to the day. If these young women are examples of our nations future we are in good hands.
Following these young women was a movie clip and speech from Alanis Obamsawin. She has been producing films for over 50 years, showing us through song and her films how she has advocated for her people, the Abenaki Nation. We watched a portion of her film ‘No Address’ about the first nations people in Montreal and how the move from their home territories to the city of Montreal has caused rampant poverty and homelessness. Following this impassioned piece we watched as four women from diverse cultures described their views on how to reduce barriers to VAW services.
After trooping back over the bridge to the campus for lunch, we all split into a wide variety of workshops as we did yesterday. Any workshop that has a French component involved requires headsets for translation, (obviously that goes the other way for the English speakers addressing Francophone participants) it’s great to see that everyone can be involved in the workshops they choose regardless of the language. I chose the workshop that dealt with the links between VAW and homelessness. It’s troubling but not surprising, women make the decisions to stay or go often not knowing what leaving is going to bring about. Is it the same as deciding between the devil and the deep blue sea? Sometimes it is. With little to no affordable housing (and by the way pretty much everyone I’ve talked to out here has the same message as our city, we are not alone).
The second workshop was probably my favourite so far in that it dealt with the media, websites, dealing with community partners. It was called ‘Promoting Women’s Safety through Political Engagement and the News Media’.
Aside from a newspaper story and council visit regarding the Purple Light Night, the ads for VAW weeks each year, and the great coverage around the annual Shoe Memorial, our agency doesn’t do a lot around media coverage. We rely on our STVO to educate the Powell River people about our services through placement of cards/pamphlets and doing public education speaking engagements. Is this enough? Do Powell Riverites know what services we provide? I’m hoping this website can answer some questions anyway. If there’s something you’d like to see covered or answered about us, let me know. Thanks from Ottawa!
Victim Services Powell River 