Women's Memorial March (Vancouver DtES)

[Tindalos]

Every year on Feb 14, the residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DtES) hold a memorial march for the women who have gone missing or been killed in that area and across Canada. The DtES is often referred to as Canada's poorest postal code (read more at the Vancouver Sun about the DtES and about http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Marchers+tribute+murdered+missing+women/2565218/story.html">this year's march ). The march was much larger this year (the Sun estimated nearly 1000), probably due to the Olympics and the good weather. Hopefully the international attention will pressure the governments to finally address the bigger problems of this city.

Despite the sadness and solemnity of the occasion, it was a beautiful day and the drummers and singers made themselves heard to the eagles soaring overhead:








The Memorial March:







Press Conference at Carnegie Centre:







Empress Hotel at Main & Hastings:








Free Spirit:






~Tin
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[JeffR]

1. These are great, Tin!

Good to see the turnout so big.

The last one is a real showstopper. Great work!

[Tindalos]

3. Thanks

That last one was a brief moment of carefree spirit amongst all the solemnity and sadness.

It was good to see so many people turn out. Hopefully that will translate into changes being made... eventually. Nothing is going to happen without a change in government(s).


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[JeffR]

5. Maybe the presence of so much international press will really help

momentum gather. I know ex-Vancouverites here who are very anxious about what's happening at home.

And hell yes, time to oust a number of governments, starting in the seventh circle of Ottawa.

[Celebration]

2. Thank you for these!

This is a really interesting tradition, and your photos really capture the spirit, on all levels.

[Tindalos]

4. These marches happen across the country

They started a number of years ago and have grown in number. The residents of the DtES have been forgotten and ignored for a long time, but they're finding their voices again.


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[HappyCynic]

6. Panoramic shot

Here's a panoramic shot that gives an indication of the number of people marching.