Memory March-a silent vigil and walk-Sunday, March 28, 2010-Vancouver

Although the numbers vary, the average number of women and girls are murdered in Canada each year is around 200. Each death is an inexcusable crime, and the death toll destroys the fabric of our society. Activist Gwynne Hunt draws attention to the plight of women and girls by gathering their names and asking individuals to remember, grieve, and work for change. On Sunday, March 28th, starting at 2:00pm in Crab Park, Vancouver, Hunt has organized The Memory March, a silent walk and ceremony in remembrance of murdered and missing women in Canada.

The march will start from the Missing Women's Memorial in Crab Park at the foot of Main Street, and go to the women's monument, Marker of Change, in Thornton Park at Main Street and Terminal Avenue. In the circle of Marker of Change, participants will honour the women and girls we have lost to violence.

They will also wear the names of the almost 4000 murdered women and children. Mary Billy began The Femicide List after the December 1989 Montreal Massacre. The list contained 1, 865 names of women and children murdered across Canada. Since then. Gwynne Hunt assumed responsibility for the list since 2005.

The Memory March is sponsored by Art Matters Society, a charitable organization based in Abbotsford, producing live, unjuried, social and political theatre. One of the Society's mandates is to produce shows that help stop violence in the community Gwynne Hunt is the Artistic Director.
Gwynne's special focus is creating political theatre to help stop violence against women. In 1981, a fifteen year old family friend, Verna, went missing. She was never found. This tragic experience changed Gwynne's life. In 2008 Art Matter's produced Amrita Ganguly's play from India at the Festival of Artistic and Creative Expression. In 2009 they produced Beth Hudson's play Unwanted Dead or Alive. Beth is bringing a play back in 2010 with support from Art Matters Society as producers.

This is the 4th annual march. Come out and support us. Let us know how many people you will be bringing with you in 2010. Come out and watch The Vagina Monologues at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, Vancouver at 8 PM the night before (Saturday, March 27); the official fundraiser for the Memory March (tickets $15), or see the performance after the March on Sunday at 7 PM at Massey Hall in New Westminster.($18, plus service
charge)

For more information, please contact:
Gwynne Hunt: Phone: 604-859-2407
ragmag@telus.net
www.ragmag.net