May 17th marks a day when 120 countries come together in unity to support gender equality, sexuality and gender orientation. A day whereby the LBGTQ community and those who support and love them show their true colors and rally for the day when sexuality, gender expression is not a thing but just is.  May 17 is IDAHOT: International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. 

In recognition of today, the Bay St. George Coalition to End Violence partnered with the Western Pride Committee to hold a proclamation signing and flag raising event, inviting the community. Twenty-six individuals gathered at the Stephenville Town Hall in celebration as Mayor Tom O’Brien, with a small child sitting on his knee, listened as Chantel Drake, Chair of Western Pride Committee, read the official Proclamation. As he signed to cheers and applause, he declared May 17th International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. To which he added, “While May 17th is the designated day, every day should be a day where we are all equal!”

High and proud, the Pride and Transphobia flags can be seen flying outside the Stephenville Town Office. While inside, during every council meeting, a smaller replica can be seen sitting just to the front of the Mayor himself. 

Following the official ceremony, the diverse group of people, devoted to educating and rallying for change, gathered for refreshments and conversations. As one youth, hair colored with pride, sat proudly in the Mayor’s seat and assisted with the flag raising, one can only reflect that this is as it should be, a world where young people do not fear to be themselves, to be free to love and live as they choose. A world where one is not subjected to discrimination or punishment for being happy. 

As Margaret Meade said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Here’s to changing the world, one color at a time.

Each of us have a duty to ourselves and our world. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated during a statement released for IDAHOT,  “Today, I ask Canadians and people around the world to fight hatred, honour love, and defend human rights for everyone. Together, we can build a world where all of us are free to be who we are and love who we love.”

For more pics check us out on Facebook.

Over 130 men and women, individual and group representatives, gathered today, March 8th, to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Bernice Hancock, Chair for the BSG Women’s Centre’s Board of Directors, thanked and welcomed all for taking the time to celebrate in solidarity. She spoke of the “importance of recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of all women who have come before us and who are with us today.”  She encouraged each to support and listen to each other, to take value in the work of all women to “create a bold new vision of a world where we are safe, supported and equal.”

Following a hearty brunch, Jenny Wright, Executive Director of St. John’s Status of Women, delivered an empowering keynote address. She congratulated many women’s groups, particularly those in rural Newfoundland and Labrador for being bold in the women’s movement, having seen countless successes, among them being the BSG Women’s Centre who organized and held the first peace walk in Newfoundland.

Ms.Wright regarded how women are bold from the time they wake up in the morning, until they put their heads back on their pillows, in every aspect of their lives. Bold  in their choice to marry and bear children; bold in their choice of career even when faced with a salary inequality; bold when running for political or leadership role, quoting “there have only been 39 female MHA’s since 1949.”  She spoke of how it is time to not be silent anymore, that “women want change.” She encouraged the audience to remember that it was not formal organizations that are responsible for feminism and change in our province, but “that much of the change came because one woman stood up and said this is not right.”

Although women and girls all come from different places in their lives, each has the ability and power to make change. She shared 14 opportunities for action and reflection, something she created in honour the 14 women murdered in 1989 during the Montreal massacre.

College of the North Atlantic, Community Studies student, Miranda Targett was the recipient of the Stephanie Cormier Chaisson leadership award. Presented in honour of a dedicated woman from the Bay St. George area, who is remembered as being a “devoted mother, dedicated worker, who was born a leader.”

Wrapping the afternoon’s events, Executive Director of the BSG Women’s Centre, Janice Kennedy, declared she and her staff would be closing for the day at 2:44 pm this afternoon. A symbolic stand to show support for equal pay, she encouraged everyone to join the efforts in making a stance regarding the gender wage gap. In essence, women get paid for 82% of their work hours, in relation to men’s 100% pay.

Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.

To all women and girls worldwide…#BE BOLD FOR CHANGE!

If you happen to be in and around towns, schools, government buildings, just about anywhere in the southwestern region of Newfoundland on Wednesday, Feb. 22 you would have noticed a similarity…PINK! Everywhere!

Under the Violence Prevention Initiative of the government of NL, local coordinating committees of Bay St. George Coalition to End Violence, Peaceful Communities and HELP Committee partnered with several organizations and schools to promote violence prevention in their respective communities. 

While the month of February is Violence Prevention Month, schools recognize the third Wednesday of February as STAND UP day or Pink Shirt day. A day where students, faculty and staff wear pink shirts in support of standing up against bullying, instead of standing by; an idea that originated in Nova Scotia when two high school seniors donned pink shirts after a Grade 9 student was ridiculed for his choice of colored shirt.

Each school has its own creative way of promoting the idea. Like St. Bonafice All Grade School in Ramea whose
classrooms decorated their doors in a Violence Prevention theme. How about the Pie Contest that Burgeo Academy held integrating fun while educating on the importance of violence prevention. There are many ways to show support and kindness like students in Port aux Basques who, during their Random Acts of Kindness Week, wrote thank you letters to local first responders. Students at the College of the North Atlantic’s Paramedicine accessorized their uniform with pink bowties for the day. Staff and students of Keyin College-Western Campus sported their pink shirts.

Teaching our youth about the importance of violence prevention is vital, however, this issue is not just limited to the young. Violence knows no age limit, race or religion.  Therefore, it’s great when you go to your local public health nurse’s office and see the staff in their pink shirts. Or when you drop by the local grocery store to pick up something for dinner and are offered a piece of cake, decorated in pink icing and pink balloons everywhere. In Stephenville, on a Monday night during the weekly bingo, patrons came dressed in pink clothing of all sorts, with one senior gentleman having gone as far as to have his granddaughter paint his fingernails pink. Businesses 
windows and doorways welcomed customers with pink posters, decorations and merchandise during that day!

What an amazing feeling to know that Southwestern NL is taking a stance and STANDing UP to bullying and violence and refusing to stand by any longer. To quote singer/songwriter Sam Cooke, “Oh what a wonderful world it will be!” Together we will make it happen!

Check out our Facebook page to see many more pics of how pink southwestern Newfoundland got.

As declared under the Violence Prevention Initiative, February is Violence Prevention Month and so says, Stephenville Mayor Tom O’Brien.

Several community members, adorned in pink, stood in support as Bay St. George Status of Women Co-Chair Sherry Chaulk read out the declaration with Mayor O’Brien making it official with his signature during the Stephenville Town Council meeting yesterday, January 26, 2017. Reading from the Proclamation, he announced, “I am pleased to proclaim the month of February 2017 to be Violence Prevention Month. I encourage all residents of Stephenville to recognize that violence prevention is everyone’s responsibility and support violence prevention activities in our community.”

Each year Violence Prevention Southwest and their local coordinating committees offer various activities and events in the southwestern region. Local schools avail of Violence Prevention Month grants, receiving kits including t-shirts, videos and recommended material for display and use.  The most popular event being STAND UP day. This year on Feb. 22, 2017 students, faculty, business and government staff will don their pink shirts to show their promise to STAND UP not stand by.

In addition to school activities, a community challenge is issued to all businesses, government offices, organizations and post-secondary training institutions  to Paint the Town Pink in support of this initiative.

There are many ways we as individuals can show our support of Violence Prevention as well. Changing our Facebook profile to pink for the month, wearing pink on Feb. 22, posting a “Pink”ie Promise to Stand Up to bullying on Twitter or Instagram. Teach our children how not to bully by being a positive role model. The
re are endless ways to show our support. And remember, while February may be the month to promote awareness, Violence Prevention is something we each need to make a daily part of our lives.

On Friday, November 25th, passers-by and pedestrians were witness to Main Street, particularly the section around Coleman’s parking lot, transform into a purple world. 
The Purple Ribbon Campaign is a province-wide event that creates public awareness with hopes of positive change in societal attitudes and behaviours regarding male violence against women in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Bay St. George Coalition to End Violence could be seen, with the assistance of the Town of Stephenville, decorating the two light poles in front of Coleman’s in purple. Following, volunteers made their way inside to hand out purple ribbon magnets and lapel pins to all customers and staff.

Everyone is encouraged to show their support by placing the magnet on their car, and wearing a ribbon to help spread the message that violence of any kind is unacceptable.

Following the purple ribbon decorating, many attended the Town of Stephenville office, where Mayor Tom O’Brien signed the proclamation, declaring the Purple Ribbon Campaign and 16 Days of Activism launched.

The Purple Ribbon campaign begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, runs through the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on December 6, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day, encompassing the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.

Beginning on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the 16 Days of Activism campaign is launched worldwide. Ending on December 10, Human Rights Day, this campaign is a time to pledge action and awareness to end violence against women and girls around the world. The campaign, originally started in 1991 by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, has grown into an internationally recognized event with many activities happening around the world.

Violence Prevention Southwest, recognizes the 16 Days of Activism with the launch of its Purple Ribbon Campaign, an awareness program requesting everyone to do their part in ending violence against women. For more local events, check out our Calendar of Events and Facebook page.