Hali Reimer

It's been 22 years since a lone gunman open fired on a group of women at a college in Montreal and Agape House in Steinbach took time to remember Tuesday.  Hali Reimer says they held a vigil for the women who were killed at Ecole Polytechnique.  "It's an event most people will remember as the Montreal Massacre.  It was a long time ago and a lot of people don't remember so that's why it's important we have the vigil so that we don't forget and so we don't have a tragic event like that again."

She notes it's important to take this time to remember.  "If people don't remember the people who have gone before them and given or sacrificed their lives, it will just continue happening.  If people stay silent, violence will continue.  It's only when people will speak out against violence that change will really happen and peace has a chance to come forward."

Reimer adds this vigil is a time to honour all people who have died as a result of violence.  "We give honour to the women who died in Manitoba in the past year, women who died at Ecole Polytechnique and all people who have died as a result of violence.  It's not just women but it's all people who have been disenfranchised in some way that they become targets and we have to find a way to stop that."

She says she believes this message is being heard.  "Violence will always be with us in this world and that's a difficult thing.  But, the shelter (Agape House) has been very full for the last two or three years.  It's kind of a double edged sword, it's a really good thing because women who need our services, who need safety from abusive homes know they can access it and are finding ways to access it.  But it's sad because women actually do have to access it."

Reimer adds women are feeling empowered to step up.  "Women who are in abusive situations are finding the courage within themselves to start making changes for themselves and their children so they can stop that generational cycle of violence."