The annual Women’s Memorial March’s streak of red returned to Prince George this Valentine’s Day and numbered over a hundred people strong.
Originally started in Vancouver in 1992, the march is held in various communities in Canada and the United States on February 14. Participants are asked to wear red in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
In Prince George, this year’s gathering demonstrated growing community support despite the sub-zero temperatures, and weekday scheduling. Professionals, activists, and many people living unhoused joined the march.
Most who took to the stage, and many in the crowd, had a personal connection to someone who was either missing or murdered. Although the prevalence of this painful issue has not subsided, many in attendance felt reassured and strengthened by gathering together.
Dawn Hemingway of Northern FIRE said, “We’re one people, and we need to support each other and figure out ways to try and change the situation.”
Story also available on frequencynews.ca, 88.7 FM in Prince George—Lheidli T’enneh, and cfur.ca/listen-live Mon-Fri 7:30am & 5pm PST
CFUR Radio Society’s journalist Ian Gregg is funded by the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) through the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC).