Shoe memorial held in Kamloops

Dec 7, 2015 | 12:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — On December 6th 1989, a 25 year old man entered L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, and shot 28 people, killing 14 women. Since that tragic event, December 6th has been known as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

On Sunday December 6, 2015 – family and friends gathered at St. Andrews on the Square to remember the women they’ve lost to violent acts.

After the murder of her mother, a Kamloops woman was inspired to keep her and other victims memories alive by organizing what’s called the Shoe Memorial.

Lynn Schasse has organized the event for eight straight years. Schasse says  “we ask the public to donate shoes, we have different locations to drop off new and used women’s shoes. We take the shoes and display them on December 6th at St Andrews on the Square. For each pair of shoes we collect we place a name card of a woman who has been murdered or is missing.  We also have a memory board of all the women who’ve been murdered or are missing.”

Schasse’s mother was murdered in 2000 and says the event is an opportunity for family and friends alike to remember victims of violence.

“You always remember the murderers name like Rober Pickton but you never remember the women who’ve been murdered or are missing. I think it’s important to hold an event like this so families can remember and honor the victims” says Schasse.