Clothesline event draws hundreds to city square
By Castlegar Source
Hundreds of local residents – including three classes of grade-school students from Castlegar Primary School – made their way through Spirit Square in Castlegar yesterday, to browse the T-shirts created to raise awareness regarding domestic violence.
Castlegar’s second annual Clothesline Event, held in conjunction with Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, featured T-shirts decorated by local students, communtiy groups and outreach workers around the dual themes of domestic violence and healing.
Castlegar Mayor Lawrence Chernoff, RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew, Men Speak Out coordinator Bud Godderis, KBS’s Nicole Beestra and project assistant Kyra Hoggan offered remarks to the assembled crowd.
M&M Meats provided a barbecue, which was manned by fire cheif Gerry Rempel and city councillors Deb McIntosh, Gord Turner, Russ Hearne and Kevin Chernoff.
Andrew Earnshaw, executive director of host organization Castlegar & District Community Services society, said he was pleased with the turn-out.
“I’m gratified to see how many residents share our view of domestic violence as a very serious issue in our community,” he said. “It was also a treat to see so many community officials pitching in and participating.”
Earnshaw said special thanks are due to sponsors Columbia Basin Trust, Fortis BC, M&M Meat Shops, Castlegar Safeway, the Hospital Auxiliary and the City of Castlegar.
Project assistant Kyra Hoggan said she was delighted to see so many young children at the event.
“Within our littlest residents lies our greatest hope of seeing a major shift in our society’s perceptions of, and reactions to, domestic violence,” she said. “If we reach even one of them, encourage even one child to see themselves and their place in the world differently, then it’s a win, so far as I’m concerned.”
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