City Flags To Be Lowered To Honor Montreal Massacre

Monday, 25 November 2019 at 07:39

In honour of the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, a majority of the flags in Woodstock will be lowered at half-mast next month.

WOODSTOCK - Most flags will be raised at half-mast next month as a part of the Zonta Says No campaign.

Woodstock City council approved the motion at last Thursday's meeting, in honour of the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

Member of the Zonta Club of Woodstock and Zonta International, Sheena Poole says this is just one of the initiatives for the campaign.

"It really does, I think, speak to what we are trying to accomplish by bringing awareness to our community about the violence against women, the issues that we have in our community and globally because we are an international organization. And I think that this will hopefully set a precedence for other areas who maybe are trying to accomplish something similar."

Director of Services for the Children's Aid Society and current chair for the D.A.R.T Oxford committee, Giselle Lutfallah says she commends City council's actions.

"I think tonight's actions by City council demonstrate their support for women who have lived in abusive relationships and who have left or who are currently living in abusive relationships, as well as supporting young women who are obviously going to be in relationships later in their life."

Most of them will be raised on December 6th, with the exception of the large flag on the Highway 401.

The Zonta Club is an international organization with over 29,000 members throughout 63 countries.

Poole says other initiatives in the campaign will include orange ribbons being handed out in the community, cookies with orange icing and Christmas trees decorated with orange ribbons.

She adds the ribbons can be picked up at any of the CIBC locations, Scotiabank and their community partners including the Children's Aid Society and Canadian Mental Health Association.

The campaign starts today and runs until December 10th.