There will be empty red dresses hanging in parts of the city on October 2nd, honouring missing and murdered indigenous women.
Local organizer Tammy Meise saw the Red Dress display while in Vancouver in 2014. She wants to give a voice back to local women who’ve gone missing, especially one.
“One of my childhood best friends, Kari Anne Gordon, she was murdered and she has become a statistic. When I saw the red dress project it impacted me, it literally took my breath away … us that are mothers, that are sisters, that are daughters, that are aunties, have family and friends that have gone missing. When you actually talk to people and start making connections, it’s actually amazing how it affects so many people.”
Meise presented the event to Council on Monday night. Councillors unanimously supported the event and met her request of waiving the Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park liability costs and covering the Park rental fees. Council also gave Meise permission to hold a candlelit vigil at the Park that night and many, including Councillor Terri McConnachie, promised to be there.
“Absolutely. I just think it’s a phenomenal initiative and I’m really proud of Ms Meise and her group for bringing that forward. I think it’s going to be, visually, very impactful.”
Event participants will start by holding up red dresses along Highway 16 near the Petro-Canada on the edge of the city. After that, the dresses will be hung from the trees in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, which will be followed by the vigil.
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