On Friday, November 24th Northumberland County, Town of Cobourg, Cobourg Police Service, Port Hope Police Service, Cobourg Fire, and townships and municipalities across Northumberland joined Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre (Cornerstone) to raise Wrapped in Courage flags and work together to end gender-based violence.
November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month, and violence continues to be the greatest gender inequality rights issue for women and girls in Ontario. The Wrapped in Courage campaign unites Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters across Ontario to remind everyone that it is necessary that we work together to create a future free from gender-based violence. In support of the Wrapped in Courage campaign, on November 24th Cornerstone met with Northumberland County, Town of Cobourg, and Cobourg Police Service to raise flags. Cornerstone brought a proclamation request to Northumberland County Council, and in November Northumberland County proclaimed November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
“This November marks Cornerstone’s 40th year of providing essential services to women and children in Northumberland County”, said Cornerstone Executive Director, Nancy Johnston. Last year alone, Cornerstone provided service to over 1800 women, children and youth through shelter, counselling, housing, and prevention programming. Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH) announced that the total number of femicide victims since November 26th, 2022, has surpassed the total number of femicides reported last year, now at 55 femicides in Ontario. These femicides are preventable tragedies which devastate communities and families. We as a community, are concerned about the high rates of femicide and other forms of gender-based violence across Ontario, every life lost to gender-based violence is one too many” continued Johnston.
In September and October 2023, Cornerstone participated in The Ryan Inquest, which examined the death of Gladys Ryan, who was shot to death by her husband, Bill Ryan. During the inquest, evidence was presented that made direct correlations to intimate partner violence. As a result of the inquest, specific recommendations were made to increase training initiatives, awareness, screening and response to risk factors and instances of gender-based violence, especially for senior women. All proposed recommendations were accepted by the jury, and Cornerstone took the position of being in support of all joint recommendations.
“Since 1983, Cornerstone has helped women and children in Northumberland County who have been impacted by gender-based violence, but we know we can’t continue this work alone. We need to work together as a community to create a safer future, free from violence. Thank you to Cobourg Police, Port Hope Police, Cobourg Fire, and the communities in Northumberland County for your support, signalling a commitment to ending gender-based violence, and letting survivors in our community know they are not alone” commented Nancy Johnston.
Gender-based violence is often an invisible issue, and many individuals may not be aware of the services that are available in their community. Everyone has a role to play when it comes to addressing gender-based violence and preventing femicide. The flag raisings and proclamations in Northumberland County that have taken place in November are symbolic to our commitment as a community to ending gender-based violence and ensuring survivors know they are not alone.
Cornerstone is continuing to sell handmade, fairtrade Wrapped in Courage purple scarves, please contact cfordham@cornerstonenorthumberland.ca or visit Cornerstone’s website to learn more about how you can support Cornerstone. Every community member has an integral role to play when it comes to preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors, and promoting gender equality.
Established in 1983, Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre (Cornerstone) is an accredited violence against women agency working to end gender-based violence by providing accessible, compassionate, and best practice modeled programs and services inclusive of shelter, counselling, housing support, and prevention through a support system that inspires hope, creates safety, and fosters resilience.