PRESS RELEASE

Grace Sparkes House Hosts Remembering Her Event, Announces Family of Cortney Lake as Recipients of New Bursary

December 1, 2017 (Marystown, NL) This evening Grace Sparkes House will host Remembering Her, a dinner and vigil to honour the lives of missing and murdered women who have died as a result of intimate partner violence, at the Marystown Hotel and Convention Centre. This is a fundraising event to create a new bursary to support families whose immediate female family member is missing or has been murdered as a result of intimate partner violence. Cortney Lake, who was killed in June, will be honoured at the event. Cortney’s family will attend and speak. Also speaking are Linda Ross - President and CAO of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women and Clyde Jackman – Chairperson of Grace Sparkes House. Lisa Slaney, Executive Director of Grace Sparkes House, will act as emcee.

“The Remembering Her Event and Bursary have a dual purpose. First and foremost, it will honour the lives of missing and murdered women connected to our region and provide financial support to their families. Secondly, it provides an opportunity to educate our communities on the serious issue of violence against women, which is critical to eliminating all forms of violence against women,” said Ms. Slaney.

Linda Ross urges everyone to take responsibility to end violence against women: “For all our efforts to end violence, the list of missing and murdered women continues to grow. If we are to really end violence, then we need to do more to educate our children, look at where we can improve polices, programs and supports, but most importantly, as individuals, each of us must take responsibility and speak out and challenge attitudes and behaviours that fuel a culture of violence.”
Amongst eligibility requirements for the new bursary, the missing or murdered woman or her immediate family must be from or have lived on the Burin Peninsula. Further details can be found here: http://gracesparkeshouse.com/page/services/remembering-her-bursary

“I am honoured that we can help provide an avenue to support families who have lost a loved one through acts of violence, but more importantly that we can stand by them and advocate strongly for change,” said Ms. Slaney. “This year all proceeds from the event will be donated to Cortney Lake’s family to aid in their ongoing search efforts. We will also be honouring the lives of other women from the Burin Peninsula at the event whose lives tragically ended through acts of intimate partner violence.”

Grace Sparkes House has been providing emergency services to women and their children who experience violence for over 17 years. The Remembering Her event will allow Grace Sparkes House to continue to support and help those affected by intimate partner violence.

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Contact:
Lisa Slaney, Executive Director
Grace Sparkes House
Email: lslaney@gracesparkeshouse.com
Phone: 709-277-5878