The third annual 'Men's Night Out in the Cold' fundraiser to benefit the Moose Jaw Transition House raised over $38,000, funds that will help the domestic violence shelter enormously in its mission to provide shelter for women and children, and outreach in the community.
The event is held as part of the global White Ribbon Campaign, which was started in 1991 by a group of men in response to the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre. The mass murderer who killed 14 women in Montreal on 6 Dec. 1989 was explicitly motivated by a blanket hatred of all women.
"Nov. 25 is White RIbbon Day, which works to unite men and boys against gender-based violence," explained Jared Mathieson, an instructor at Sask Polytech, board member for the Transition House, and co-founder of the Moose Jaw event.
"It all stems from the Montreal Massacre in 1989, and it starts 16 days of activism ending on Dec. 10, which is the international Humans Rights Day.
"This is our third year, and we're sticking with our number of volunteers at 16, but every year we have lots of men approach us to ask if they can participate. We have no problem finding people, which just shows how many men are taking a stand.
"... I just think it's so important to have the Transition House in our community, not just so that they can help shelter women and children fleeing violence, but also the outreach programs they run throughout the city are so important."
Mathieson said he and his fellow male board members, Geoff Anderson and Kevin Pilsworth, are happy and proud to take the lead on organizing the fundraiser, which has become Transition House's most significant single annual event.
"It's one night where we put ourselves out there," he added. "A lot of women and children have to do more than that, with less, when they're fleeing violence."
The 16 volunteers take the White Ribbon Pledge and try to raise at least $500 each for Transition House, as well as spending the night of Nov. 24 to 25 outside together. The white ribbon, worn for 16 days, symbolizes the willingness of men and boys never to stay quiet or passive in the face of gender-based violence.
"This is my second year doing this," said Jamey Logan, a business owner and city councillor. "I have three sisters and was fortunate to grow up in a household where the type of thing we're raising awareness for tonight wasn't an issue. And some of my sister's friends weren't so lucky, so I've seen what it can do to a family.
"Message-wise, I want to say that we will support women and children in need at any time, and we won't stand for any abuse of any kind."
Les Chelles, volunteering for his first year, said he was motivated to join the group in order to help send the message that gender-based violence of any kind is never acceptable.
"Jared asked me if I'd like to be a part of this, and I said absolutely. I've podcasted about domestic violence and intimate partner abuse, so when the opportunity came for me to actually get out and do something on a topic I've talked about, I couldn't pass it up."
Learn more at www.whiteribbon.ca, www.mj-transitionhouse.com, and at www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/16-days-of-activism.
White Ribbon 2023 – Men’s Night Out in the Cold participants
- Ira Dales – Ifrix Solutions (Year 3)
- Joel Pinel – Vize Labs (Year 3)
- Brett Williams – Cypress Paving (Year 3)
- Kyle Sereda – Medavie Health Services West (Year 3)
- John Iatridis – The Mad Greek (Year 3)
- Paul Busse – Moose Jaw Firefighter (Year 2)
- Alex Carelton – Crushed Can (Year 2)
- Eric Campbell – Lindale School Principal (Year 2)
- Jamey Logan – Strictly Fences (Year 2)
- Travis Olson – Royal Bank (Year 1)
- Eric Kempe – PTW (Year 1)
- Chris Olfert – JGL (Year 1)
- Les Chelle – K+S Potash (Year 1)
- Kenric Phillips – Regal Electric (Year 1)
- Cory Knutt – Golden West Broadcasting (Year 1)
- Dan Chalupiak – Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Year 1)
