By Karen Bradley
Saturday May 18 saw the 8th annual VDay, organized by WAVES: Women against Violence on the Eastern Shore. The event took place at the Old School in Musquodoboit Harbour and included an art show of works depicting women and environmental concerns
This year’s theme was about climate justice and the focus was Mother Earth: Our Connection. After the opening list of statistics about violence against women in Canada, particularly indigenous women, Michele Graveline, Fyre Jean Graveline, Liliami Maney, Linda Bayers, Jude Major, Brenda Coombs, and Meaghan Salter shared original pieces, plus a few from Eve Ensler’s original production of Vagina Monologues.
Pearl Akers sang two original songs and the Gaia Circle Singers performed as well. Ruth Moxley did two belly dances. The evening ended with a section of the Global Water Dances (to be performed around the world on June 15th, and in Nova Scotia, in Pictou) and a rousing singalong of Joni Mitchell’s, “Big Yellow Taxi.”
WAVES is currently sponsoring a bursary to be given to an ESDHS student working to improve the lives of women through their studies and/or other activities. They are also initiating YouthWaves: Building Youth Capacity Through Anti-Violence Leadership. Interested youth can email: [email protected].