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Walk shines light on missing, murdered indigenous women

Dog owners2
University of Victoria professor Joan Wharf Higgins has been studying the exercise habits of dog owners and their canines in local parks. Her dog

Over the last five years, 582 indigenous women have been identified as missing or murdered in Canada. For the last three years, the Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women has sought to remember those who are lost.

"It's a time to grieve, honour and remember the missing and murdered indigenous women and their families," said the co-organizer of the memorial, Gina Starblanket of the University of Victoria Women's Centre.

At noon on Feb. 13, the public will meet in front of Our Place at 919 Pandora Ave. The walk is expected to take about an hour and end up at Thunderbird Park next to the Royal B.C. Museum, 675 Belleville St.

The march will make three stops along the route to allow for memorial speeches honouring the missing and murdered indigenous women. An open service is planned for Thunderbird Park.

The annual event falls five days before the Take Back the Night Walk planned to honour the memory of 18-year-old Tyeshia Jones, who went missing in Duncan on Jan. 22 and was found murdered on Jan. 28. The candlelight walk is also open to all and starts at 8 p.m. in Duncan City Square on Feb. 18.

"Those recent events are obviously devastating, but it's always a really important topic," Starblanket said.

nnnorth@saanichnews.com