Yellowknife (Dec 10/03) - Family violence affects everyone, Annie Goose told a crowd gathered to remember the Dec. 6, 1989 massacre of 14 women students in Montreal.

Annie Goose lights a candle to remember violence against women, Dec. 6. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"We need to remember in our own communities, the women who died because of family violence," Goose, director of the women's and children's healing and recovery program at the YWCA said.

Close to 100 people gathered Saturday in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly for the annual memorial.

"It's time for each of us to say 'enough is enough'," said Goose, who attributed substance abuse as contributing factors in family violence.

"Alcohol and drugs are a bandage for many people's pain."

Come together

Rita Chretien, a member of Sisters in Song, who performed at the service, said everyone must come together to solve the problem of violence.

"It's not a woman's issue ... it's our issue. It has to stop. That's why we're here."

Don Babey, director of organizational development for the YWCA, said the ceremony has been an annual event in Yellowknife for at least seven years.

"It's one way to show visible support and to share our collective pain," Babey said.