Front line worker Anna Keilar and executive director of the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society Lynn Loeppky lead about 40 people in a march from Begbie View Elementary to Grizzly Plaza to stand in solidarity with those experiencing sexual and physical abuse on April 18, 2018. The march was part of the society’s prevention of violence against women week. “We’re marching for women who have experienced abuse or are currently experiencing abuse and showing our support by saying: this is not okay,” said Emily Kemp, communications specialist at the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke Review)
According to Canada’s Battered Women’s support services, more than a third of women worldwide will experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime. Executive director of the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society, Lynne Loepkky, shared that statistic after leading a march of about 40 people from Begbie View Elementary to Grizzly Plaza on Wednesday, April 18.
The march was organized as part of prevention of violence against women week, which began this Monday and will conclude on Saturday, April 21.
“The violence is invisible but, as the statistics show, it is happening,” said Lopekky during her address at Grizzly Plaza.
“As a community we need to continually raise awareness. We need to help the women of our community stay safe. We need to listen to them when they tell us violence is happening.”
According to the Women’s Society the Revelstoke RCMP attends domestic violence calls about once every two weeks.
About 25 domestic violence calls were reported in Revelstoke in 2017.
The march was held in solidarity with those experiencing physical or sexual abuse.
“We’re marching for women who have experienced abuse, or are currently experiencing abuse, and showing our support by saying: abuse is not okay,” said Emily Kemp, communications specialist at the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society.
The intention of the week is to express solidarity with those experiencing physical and sexual abuse, according to a media release from the society.
Refreshments at Grizzly Plaza were provided by the Aboriginal Friendship Society, (AFS) who said they were marching in solidarity with women who are experiencing abuse and hoped to bring awareness to missing and murdered indigenous women across Canada.
“We took part because we wanted to participate and to share the knowledge of missing and murdered indigenous women,” said Marlene Krug, president of AFS.
According to AFS the RCMP have received 1,213 reports of missing or murdered indigenous women across Canada since 1980.
Members of the AFS led protesters in the Women’s Warrior Song as they marched.
Deanna West, Chelsea Franche, and Carell Leduc were among the 40 protesters who marched on Grizzly Plaza on Wednesday as part of a march organized by the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society. The march was part of Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, which runs until Saturday. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke Review)The Revelstoke RCMP escort about 40 people down 9th Street during a march organized by the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society to stand in solidarity with those experiencing physical and sexual abuse on April 18, 2018. The march was part of Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, which runs until Saturday. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke Review)Hannah Whitney and Reanne Harvey march in solidarity with those affected by physical and sexual abuse on April 18, 2018. The march was held as part of prevention of violence against women week, organized by the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke Review)Marlene Krug, president of the Aboriginal Friendship Society, her son Jack Fair, Theresa Hamilton, Sanja Radović and Maya Manson, stand in solidarity with those affected by physical or sexual violence after marching from Begbie View Elementary to Grizzly Plaza on April 18, 2018. “We took part because we want to participate and to share knowledge of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada,” said Krug.Revelstoke residents gather in Grizzly Plaza to hear an address from executive director of the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society after marching from Begbie View Elementary to Grizzly Plaza on April 18, 2018. The march was organized by the shelter society as part of prevention of violence against women week. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke Review)Revelstoke residents gather in Grizzly Plaza to hear an address from executive director of the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society after marching from Begbie View Elementary to Grizzly Plaza on April 18, 2018. The march was organized by the shelter society as part of prevention of violence against women week. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke Review)Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society executive director Lynn Loeppky addresses about 40 people at Grizzly Plaza after leading a march in solidarity with women who have been the victims of physical and sexual abuse. During her address she said that according to Canada’s Battered Women’s Support Services about a third of women worldwide are likely to experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifeti me. “Violence against women is a community issue but it happens in homes behind closed doors,” said Loeppky. “The violence is invisible, but as the statistics show, it is happening, and it continues to happen. As a community we need to continue to raise awareness.” The march was part of Prevention of Violence Against Women Week. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke Review)Hands on display at Grizzly Plaza that were made by students at Revelstoke Secondary School in order to raise awareness of physical and sexual abuse. On Wednesday the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society organized a march of about 40 people on Grizzly Plaza as part of prevention of violence against women week. (Jake Sherman/Revelstoke)
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