REDress Day being recognized in Victoria Park
May 5 is REDress Day, which is held annually to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two spirit+ people in Canada.
An event was held in Victoria Park in London, Ont. to recognize the day.
REDress Day is a time for remembrance, advocacy, and bringing awareness to the systemic issues leading to violence towards Indigenous People across Turtle Island and beyond.
“We are really pleased to be here today, along with our community partners, and helping to amplify the voices of those community partners and advocating for our Indigenous sisters,” said Jennifer Martin, donor stewardship and events coordinator for My Sisters’ Place.
Activities at the event were centered around bringing the community together by providing a space for education, advocacy and remembrance.
Some of the day’s events included an open mic for community members to tell their stories, a drum group, community art pieces and more.
Information booth, Indigenous vendors, and the REDress Project were displayed throughout the park.
Even organizer Tiffany Zub, who is a mental health and addictions councillor at Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Center (SOHAC), said it’s important to continue gathering yearly.
“We gather to bring awareness, and not let the memory of these women, girls and vulnerable people fade away,” said Zub.
Zub said city councillors have been initiating conversations with the Indigenous community, “They’ve been becoming more and more present, they’ve started to meet with us, and say sure we’ve got these strategic plans, but where [can] some [more] action can be put into place.”
“Being indigenous, I feel like it is more important to instil more safety measure for our little girls so that way they know what to do in certain situations,” said Shelby Phillips, Miss Onieda 2023-24.
—With files from CTV News London's Reta Ismail
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
'Repetitive partisan conduct': Conservatives to force vote on ousting Speaker Greg Fergus
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
Trial for B.C. man accused of killing, dismembering wife begins
The trial for a Langley man accused of killing his wife began Monday, with the prosecutor laying out a disturbing series of facts agreed upon by both Crown and defence.
Stars roar back to win Game 3 over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Severe thunderstorms, tornado watch in some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind, severe thunderstorms and even snowfall across some areas of Canada.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
Israel close to approving Gaza reunification program before Rafah invasion: Miller
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Israel seemed to be on the verge of approving a program to get Palestinian relatives of Canadians out of the Gaza Strip before the country's invasion of the town of Rafah.