Longtime Kamloops women’s advocate Cynthia Davis remembered as fierce social justice activist

The obituary memorializes Davis as “a tireless warrior for the causes of social justice and spent her whole life fighting for these causes with a sword of fearless determination and courage and a shield of love and kindness.”

She retired from her role with KSACC in 2014.

In the present day, Alix Dolson leads KSACC. She told CFJC Today she didn’t know Davis personally, but is uplifted by her legacy every day.

“As a woman growing up in Kamloops, I’ve benefitted from the work that Cynthia did,” said Dolson. “She was critical in public awareness, in activism, doing things like organizing ‘Take Back the Night’ marches. That’s, I think, how most people remember – as an activist.”

The annual ‘Take Back the Night’ marches grew in popularity year by year, giving women an avenue to express their solidarity in the face of violence and intimidation.

“‘Take Back the Night’ was an effort to be in the community, be in the public, to draw attention to the street harrassment and violence that women and girls experience out in the world,” said Dolson. “Cynthia was a big part of establishing that and keeping that going in Kamloops.”

“The work that folks do here at [KSACC], and have been doing since the early ’80s, Cynthia was a huge part of that,” Dolson continued. “That’s providing support and safety to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. There are likely a lot of folks in the community who would have directly benefitted from that work that Cynthia did.”

In the obituary, Spence says a memorial gathering will be held at a later time.

by James Peters

Longtime Kamloops women’s advocate Cynthia Davis remembered as fierce social justice activist

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