December 6, 2024

Canada’s National Day for Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Friday marks the 35th anniversary of a violent act of misogyny that sparked a nationwide day of action in the fight against gender-based violence. On Dec. 6, 1989, a gunman entered Montreal’s École Polytechnique (now known as Polytechnique Montréal) and killed 14 people with an assault rifle, simply because they were women.A report from CBC News on the day of the attack called it a “human hunt.” Witnesses said the gunman separated the men from the women. Victims were found on three different floors.In French, the gunman shouted “You’re a bunch of feminists” and shot the students as they fled, according to witness reports.

The Montreal Massacre claimed the lives of 13 female students and one university employee. Another 10 women and four men were wounded. Today, many Canadians still feel the pain and trauma of that day.

Candlelight vigils and commemoration events are held each year around Dec. 6 honouring the 14 lives lost in Montreal. Women and Gender Equality Canada urges Canadians to remember the victims of gender-based violence on Dec. 6.

“The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who we have lost to it,” the organization notes online. “It is also a time to take action. Achieving a Canada free from gender-based violence requires everyone living in this country to educate themselves and their families and communities on gender-based violence, centre the voices of survivors in our actions and speak up against harmful behaviours.”

On Friday, Canadians can show their support by wearing a white ribbon. You can make one at home or order one online. Canadians can also observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. or attend a vigil.

December

Shoebox Project Donation !

Many thanks to the Showbox Project in Sudbury for their generous donation to the JHS. Our clients will truly benefit from their donation at this special time of year.

Holiday gift bags to the men and women incarcerated in Sudbury and North Bay jails !

Our JHS staff and volunteers have prepared holiday gift bags for distribution to the men and women who are incarcerated at the North Bay and Sudbury jails. Many thanks to everyone who donated items, prepared and delivered each bah bag individually to the men and women at the two jails. A little bit of holiday cheer !

JHS 2025 Calendars almost sold out !

Our 2025 calendars are going fast. These calendars feature artwork from people who were or are incarcerated at the North Bay Jail. The calendars can be purchased at the JHS office in Sudbury, 204 Pine Street and at Sun Life-Northern Great Lakes, 1224 Algonquin Avenue in North Bay. They are only $20.00 each and all proceeds will assist the JHS programs in North Bay.

What a great idea for your Christmas gift list !

JHS Sudbury Clothing Drive

The John Howard Sudbury is accepting and looking for good used clothing for our clients. Clothes for men are badly needed, especially underwear, T-shirts, socks and pants and winter clothes. They can be dropped off at the JHS, back door in the parking lot behind our building. Drop off can be from 9 am- 12 noon and 1 pm-4 pm. Your clothing donations are greatly appreciated.

The John Howard Society believes in effective, just and humane responses to crime and its causes. We are dedicated to creating genuinely safer communities by helping to foster a truly effective criminal justice system. The John Howard Society helps people reintegrate into society, thereby reducing alienation, crime and recidivism.

Our mission is resolute. We want to help to create a truly effective criminal justice system – one that serves us all, that confronts crime and its causes and that fosters safer communities. In short, we help people turn away from a life of crime. Surely, that’s what we’d all like to see.

Practically speaking, we STOP Crime Now ! ^TM through the multitude of programs and services that we offer to the community. You can help us to STOP Crime Now ! ^TM through your donation to the John Howard Society of Sudbury. All funds raised are used to deliver our programs and services in the Sudbury and North Bay communities. STOP Crime Now ! ^TM is a registered trademark of the John Howard Society of Sudbury.

We are proud to commemorate Prisoners Justice Day every year. It is a day where we remember the violence within the walls of incarceration and the men and women who have died because of this violence while incarcerated. In 2024 the commemoration will be on August 10 at 10:00 am on the grounds of the Sudbury Jail. For more information please go to the Prisoners Justice Day page on our website.

(NEW!) The John Howard Society assists people with criminal records to apply for a record suspension, formerly known as a pardon. It is a lengthy process and can take up to two years. If you would like more information contact the John Howard Society as soon as possible.

Some of our funders include the following and we are truly appreciative of their support. Given that the vast majority of Canadians claim to give to charities but just less than 25% of Canadians claim their charitable donations on their tax return, you may want to make sure you know the benefits! Your donations are important ! Please remember us.

To easily calculate the tax savings for a donation of any amount, use https://www.canadahelps.org/taxtime/.

For information on how our programs and services can be accessed in French contact the John Howard Society of Sudbury at the references located on our contact page. Those programs and services that are available in French are noted with an (F) in the title of each service or program. The John Howard Society is an inclusive agency serving all people in our community. We have posted the Pride progress Flag on our website as a symbol that everyone is welcome to enter our agency for service.

Vianet is a proud supporter of the John Howard Society and the great work that we do all across Ontario to provide effective, just, and humane responses to crime and its causes. Vianet supports and helps in creating safer communities and to STOP Crime Now!

June is National Indigenous History Month. For more information please go to our Events page.

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