Flags at City Facilities Half-Masted in Honour of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6

Every year on December 6, the City of Owen Sound recognizes the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.  Flags at all City facilities (excluding City Hall’s community flagpole) will be lowered to half-mast, in honour of this day of significance.

This year marks 36 years since the murder of 14 young women at Polytechnique Montréal (December 6, 1989) who were killed for no other reason than being women. This act of violent misogyny shook our country and led the Federal Government to designate December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who have lost their lives to it. It is also a time to take action. Achieving a Canada free from gender-based violence requires everyone living in this country to educate themselves and their families and communities on gender-based violence, centre the voices of survivors in our actions and speak up against harmful behaviours.

A community-organized candlelit vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women will take place on Friday, December 5, at 5 p.m. at the Farmers’ Market.

For more information, please contact Tim Simmonds, City Manager at 519-376-4440 ext. 1210 or email tsimmonds@owensound.ca

Quick Facts:

• December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
• 2025 marks 36 years since 14 women were murdered at Ecole Polytechnique in Montréal, simply for being women
• See ways to honour the victims of this tragedy on December 6 on the Federal Government’s website
• Read more about Days and Months of Significance Recognized by the City of Owen Sound on its website

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