Calgary – Carolyn Snaychuk, Chairperson, of the AFL’s Women’s Committee proclaimed, "the World March of Women continues. There’s still a lot of marching left to be done."

These words came at the end of another highly successful workshop aimed at eliminating violence against women. Since 1990, the Federation’s women’s committee has committed to holding annual workshops to strategize concrete actions to eliminate gender-based violence.

Sparked by the massacre of 14 women in Montreal eleven years ago, these workshops represent a commitment by labour to creating change, through education and action.

This year’s workshop, "Action and Healing: It Starts With You," brought women and men together to participate in a panel discussion, breakout sessions and a traditional aboriginal healing circle.

The panel, led by Sylvia Hawkins, Frankie Nash and Beth Balshaw defined and identified forms of violence, looked at a union’s "Courage to Care" program, and examined the far-reaching effects of violence.

Beth Balshaw, a local psychologist dealing with victims of violence, recounted the following:

"I had a client, who when asked how many times she was hit by her partner, responded sheepishly, ‘not too much…only once a week.’ I responded, ‘once is too much.’ The next time I met with her, she told me that she was actually being beaten several times a week, often times, on a daily basis. She said, ‘not until I heard you say that once was too much, had I ever thought zero was an option."

The breakout session served to assist participants to develop a ‘how to’ plan for personal empowerment. The session’s facilitators then asked participants to strategize ways in which they could share their empowerment in their homes, workplaces and communities. Education was something that stood out for all of the groups --- using education as a tool to change a culture of violence.

One participant said, "I know I can make a difference now. I will definitely be taking some of these things back to my local."

The day concluded with a two-hour traditional aboriginal healing session led by Kerrie Moore. Kerrie introduced the history and philosophy behind aboriginal healing, then led the group through a ceremony called a ‘smudge.’ For this ceremony, sage or sweetgrass is burned to cleanse the body and the spirit.

Participants were energized, enthused, and educated. All were ready to take the skills, strategies and ideas learned and shared, back to their unions, community leagues and homes. The 25 men and women gathered on December 7^th demonstrate that the World March of Women will continue.