Under the darkness of an early December sky and with cold nipping at fingers, over two dozen people from all walks of life came to Benson Park Friday 6 December. In Picton, as in communities large and small across Canada, local residents commemorated the National Day of Remembrance and pledged Action on Violence Against Women.

Gathered around candlelight, they remembered the 14 women slain at École Polytechnique de Montréal on 6 December 1989.

Some also gathered to remember a brilliant and artistic County native, Cynara Lewis, murdered in the prime of her life at an apartment building in Peterborough last year. Others attended to reinforce the new mandate to protect women in our community and ensure that those who raise their hands in acts of Intimate Partner Violence must face the Criminal Justice System.

Increased Numbers

 Alternatives For Women Executive Director Julie Watson said local cases of domestic violence are rising. On average, over 50 women per year in Ontario are victims of femicide, the murdering of girls and women because of their gender.

“There are so many societal factors at play. We see public attacks on women because of their gender, and in some jurisdictions, there are now attacks on gender equality itself. Advances made over the last century are poised to go in reverse. We see that south of the border now and it should be very concerning for everyone,” said Ms. Watson.

Victims of IPV are especially vulnerable to affordable housing shortages and food insecurity. AFW offers safe family housing and family and victim support. Ms. Watson thanked private donors, businesses and local government for their ongoing support of the agency and its clients. She underscored the online tools and resources at the Alternatives for Women website.

New Policing

The Prince Edward OPP are among many police services across Ontario taking a harder look at gender-based violence. Constable Aaron Miller now monitors cases from allegation through investigation and on to the justice process. That is a result of what’s called the CKW Inquest.

On September 22, 2015 in Pembroke, Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam were murdered by a man who was a former partner to all and was known to be violent. The inquest brought about 86 recommendations designed to close holes that were left open, allowing a single person to murder three women.

Constable Miller focuses on three priority areas, including overseeing and reviewing all IPV incidents committed in Prince Edward County, timely review of abuse allegations and building and maintaining community partnerships with agencies such as AFW.

“I think everyone at the table understands we won’t be able to police our way out of domestic violence,” said Mr. Miller. “IPV impacts our community greatly and it crosses all socioeconomic classes. It’s an incredibly wide-ranging issue.

“What might help the most right now is a united message that illustrates how major an issue this is for Prince Edward County and raises awareness of IPV and gender-based violence. Sadly, there’s folks who don’t know what to look for and don’t know what to do when they come across it.”

Remembering Cynara Lewis

The news of the death of Cynara Lewis stunned and saddened this community last September. Ms. Lewis, 27, had been a student at both PECI and Prince Edward Learning Centre. During her tenure as a Panther, she won a gold medal in photography in provincial competition in 2014. Later, Cynara was an outspoken advocate for community safety and presented on behalf of PELC to County Council in 2018, calling for a safe sidewalk to connect Macaulay Village to Picton along Church Street.

Cynara Lewis was killed in a stabbing incident at a Queen’s Court apartment building on Sept. 6, 2023. Larissa Lewis recounted, her voice faltering at the memory, the early morning phone call with the news that her sister had been the victim of a homicide.

“She was taken from us far too soon.” 

In honour of Cynara and on a cold night in December, surrounded by candlelight and with Prince Edward County residents tearing up, Larissa read aloud “Dead Women Count” by Scottish poet Magi Gibson. The poem speaks to the accounting of women taken at the hands of men in the UK by Karen Ingala Smith: “she / is counting, every week, every one. / And we are counting with her.”