Elections near and far coupled with growing Healthcare concerns, underlied attendance at an annual reproductive rights demonstration organized by the Northern Women’s Centre at UNBC and encouraged by the ongoing IWAU conference. The gathering was witnessed by downtown commuters as CFURadio sampled some attendees.
A common concern identified that healthcare services have become even more stressed and that stress is affecting everyone, including those seeking reproductive care. This increased the usual unease about access to abortion and other services.
A close BC election, and the return of the Republican party in the US election raised anxiety in the group, as the pivotal Roe v. Wade legislation was overturned in their prior term, removing federal abortion protections. Regarding that, in attendance was UNBC’s Dr. Indriani Margolin, who stated, “Women live, often, with a sense of fear and concern for their safety, so just knowing that’s happening across the border, it just raises that concern.”