Status of Women Review Committee

The Status of Women Review Committee is a joint committee of the Brandon University Faculty Association and Brandon University. Established in 1988, the SWRC is “Committed to equal opportunities for women in the university community”.

Dec. 6 — National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Every Dec. 6, the country pauses to remember the 14 women who lost their lives in a mass shooting at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989. This year’s Day will feature online graphics and a digital moment of silence, when everyone is asked to set aside time for reflection and to avoid online commitments.

Through the Status of Women Review Committee, BU is offering a downloadable Zoom background for people to use. The background lists the names of the 14 women who lost their lives at l’École Polytechnique: Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.

Digital moment of silence

As well, the SWRC is asking you to observe a digital moment of silence, where you turn of all screens and committ instead to quiet reflection. That means no emails, no social media, and no video conferencing. A quiet time for you to collect your thoughts.

The digital moment of silence is set for 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, a time chosen to minimize impact on classes. It is suggested that you pause for at least 15 minutes: one minute for each victim of the l’École Polytechnique massacre, plus one minute for wider reflection on a future without gender-based violence.

#LookForwardTo

Let’s bring some positivity to our timelines. The “Look Forward To” campaign asks you to share on social media what you’re most eager for in the future, and to tag the friends and family you want to enjoy it with. The burden of the pandemic is falling disproportionately on women’s shoulders, but research shows that thinking optimistically about the future and setting goals can help manage anxiety and stress in the present.