Annual Saskatoon art project combats violence against women

Saskatoon Women’s Community Coalition (WCC) is commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique massacre with two displays across the city to remind others of the fight against gender-based violence.

At the University of Saskatchewan, shoes lay next to photos of the 14 women who were killed on Dec. 6, 1989 while they attended classes or worked on campus.

Their 14 silhouettes also stand in the display window of the Ministry of Social Services Income Assistance Building on 21st Street East for passerbys to stop and learn.

“We’re trying to remind people that this is something we need to remember as an important moment in history. These women aren’t just going to be forgotten,” WCC co-chair Tara Kooy said, adding it was important to have displays at the U of S. “I think it’s a good reminder, especially to the female-identified youth on campus, to say at one time, and still in many places, just the act of coming to school was a dangerous act for women.”

Violence against women was thrust to the forefront in Saskatoon this week, following the discovery of the body of Karina Wolfe, who went missing five years ago. Her accused killer, Jerry Constant, faces charges of second degree murder and indignity to human remains.

Wolfe’s case is also similar to Daleen Bosse and Amber Redmen, fellow Saskatoon women who were also murdered by men they had just met.

The university display will only be up until Sunday evening, but the downtown piece will stay until the end of the month.