London Lightning brings awareness to violence against women
London Lightning players looked a little different at their game Sunday, turning in their yellow jerseys for purple ones to bring awareness to the issue of male violence against women.
During the pregame ceremony, athletes stood arm in arm while wearing purple t-shirts that are part of the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign.
"This is a partnership that we have had with the London Lightning since the inception of the team in 2011," said Fabienne Haller, the campaign coordinator.
In their game against the Sudbury Five, the team wore purple jerseys in support of ending violence against women.
“They are custom made and they will sign the jerseys and you can bid on them during the game online,” Haller said.
Proceeds from the jerseys sold will go to front-line services for abused women and girls in the community, according to Haller.
Before the game began a video played, showing this year’s honourees of the campaign, including Keira Kagan a four-year-old girl who was found dead alongside her father in 2020. As a survivor, Dr. Jennifer Kagan, Keira’s mother was also shown as an honouree.
Kagan has stated publicly that she believes her daughter was the victim of a murder-suicide.
Kagan is now processing her grief and trying to advocate for more protection for children suffering from domestic violence through a blog called #ForLittleKeira.
"The campaign acts as a beacon of hope while reminding us there is still much work to be done. There is an opportunity for everyone to reflect, learn, listen, and have open conversations,"
In addition to the ceremony, there was a halftime performance by Belle Pointe Dance Company, a 50/50 draw, and postgame autographs, in support of the LAWC.
The London Lightning won with a final score of 104-102.
With files from CTV’s Sean Davidson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit the federal carbon price on natural gas, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
'It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer still haunted by death of Toronto police officer
“It's just so hard to let it go. I mean, everyone is telling me, ‘you have to move on,’ but I know someone is not here [anymore]. So I don't know how I will move on." That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.