Sisters in Spirit Vigil to Be Held on October 4th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. John’s, NL – First Light and the St. John’s Status of Women Council (SJSWC) are once again partnering to hold the Sisters in Spirit Vigil to remember and honour missing and murdered women, girls, and gender-diverse people.

The Sisters in Spirit Vigil will take place at 6pm on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at the First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity located at 81 Cochrane Street in St. John’s. The event will be held in person and made available via livestream on the First Light Facebook page, with visual language interpretation provided. The vigil provides a space for families and friends to celebrate the life of their loved ones while creating opportunities for healing.

Registration for in-person participation at the Sisters in Spirit Vigil is now closed. However, additional seating has been reserved for families and friends of those who have been affected by gender-based violence. Anyone wishing to participate in the event, including speaking at the vigil, may still contact Brooke Temple to make arrangements. Brooke can be reached by email at brooke@firstlightnl.ca.

This year’s vigil comes amid heightened concerns across the country about whether police and government officials have the resources – or even the will – to address gender-based violence. Earlier this year, the Government of Manitoba announced that it would not support searching the Prairie Green landfill near Winnipeg to find the remains of Morgan Harris and Mercedes Myran, two murdered Indigenous women whose remains are known to be buried there.

Media are invited to attend the Centre for Performance and Creativity ahead of the vigil between 3pm and 4pm. During that time, staff will be available for interviews and tours. The event site will be closed to the media after 4pm.

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