For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Cara Louise Ellis the first of 62 women to be remembered in CFCDI Living Memorial Stones Project

Memorial plaques to be placed in downtown Vancouver to commemorate murder victims

Vancouver, Monday, October 29, 2012 at 10am

The streets of downtown Vancouver will soon be transformed. On Monday, October 29, the first memorial plaque, bearing the name of Cara Louise Ellis, will be unveiled in front of The Bay, at Granville Street and West Georgia. Inspired by Germany’s Stolperstein or “Stumbling Stones” The Living Stones Memorial Project will place memorial plaques throughout the sidewalks of the Downtown Eastside to represent each of the 62 women who were murdered, went missing, or were victims of Robert Pickton. The bronze plaques, each approximately 4×4 inches, will bear the name of each victim, followed by their birth date as well as the word “MURDERED” or “MISSING”, and will be strategically placed at the approximate location that each woman disappeared.

The concept for the memorial developed from a realization that throughout the Oppal Commission, the parties involved were attracting greater attention than the women victims. Working with the City of Vancouver the Canadian Foundation for Creative Development and Innovation (CFCDI) pioneered the project in a hope to keep the memory of the women alive.  As CFCDI Director, Sean Kirkham, states: “The Living Memorial Stones become reminders and voices; they call out that these women had a name.” For many of Pickton’s victims, the living stones will serve as the only gravestone they will have.

The unveiling of Cara Louise Ellis’ plaque next Monday marks the commencement of the first phase of the project. In total, 26 plaques have been cast and are ready to be placed in the sidewalks. A second group consisting of 36 plaques is set to be cast at a yet to be determined date, based on funds raised through the CFCDI’s fundraising efforts. Other components of the project include a memorial plaque providing a backstory to the Stones, as well as an interactive website that will serve as an educational tool to find out more about the personal lives of the women. The website will also provide the platform to raise awareness of abuse to women and children, as well as those disappearing in Canada.

For more information and to find out how you can be a part of creating a Living Legacy, contact: 

604.783.7326 
sean@backwardsnever.org

The Canadian Foundation for Creative Development and Innovation (CFCDI), the society is a registered [S-0059138) non-profit organization, incorporated in the Province of British Columbia. It advocates supporting community based arts in Vancouver through art therapy, restorative justice, training, education, mentoring and job skills, as well as offering opportunities to persons to give back to their community through the creation of art related projects.