SURREY - To mark 2020’s, Worldwide One Billion Rising* campaign, the biggest mass action to end violence against women, social justice and faith based organizations came together to hold events in Vancouver and Surrey in February 2020. 

The main focus was to bring people together to create over 1300 care packages filled with personal hygiene necessities to help women and children across the Lower Mainland. Both gatherings brought an intersection of people and faiths interested in giving back and delving in deeper conversations to enrich their communities. 

Elder Gertie Pierre, from the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society welcomed event participants with opening remarks and offered the sacred tradition of cedar brushing, that helped clear negative energy. 

Both events had brief interactive question rounds where partnering organizations were highlighted, but also participants were encouraged to exchange ideas with others. At each event, Chas Coultee from the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society educated participants about Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls. Both the cities of Vancouver and Surrey honoured the events with the reading of official proclamations declaring February 1-7th UN World International Harmony Week, and the assembly of more than 1,300 hygiene packages. 

*Every February, we rise – in countries across the world – to show our local communities and the world what one billion looks like and shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors most often face. For more information on Background on One Billion Rising: https://www.onebillionrising.org/about/campaign/one-billion-rising/

Care packages were created to support the following organizations:

  •       Ama Transition House
  •       Azure Place
  •       Bill Reid Place
  •       Charlford House
  •       Cold Weather Shelters across the Lower Mainland
  •       Dixon House
  •       Durrant Transition House
  •       Elizabeth Gurney House
  •       Evergreen Transition House
  •       Firth Residence
  •       Fraserside Emergency Family Shelter
  •       Hyland House
  •       Jewish Family Services
  •       Joy's Place
  •       Kenkinow Native Housing Society
  •       Koomseh Housing
  •       Maxxine Wright Place
  •       Monarch Place
  •       Nova House
  •       Shimai Transition House
  •       Springhouse Vancouver Women’s Shelter
  •       Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter
  •       Vi Fineday Family Shelter Society

This year’s community partners included, Centre For Israel And Jewish Affairs, Global Girl Power, Global Peace Alliance, Guru Nanak Foundation of Canada, Guru Nanak's Free Kitchen, Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, Kaur Project, Mustang Justice, Sri Guru Singh Sabha Surrey, Surrey Interfaith Council , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vancouver Interfaith Network, World Sikh Organization of Canada, Worldwide Shift Disturbers. 

For more information go to www.1brlm.com