15th Annual Shine the Light on Woman Abuse Campaign
The focus of the 2024 Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign is not only femicide, but also trafficking.
This year we add two new Silent Witnesses in commemorating the lives of our 2024 Shine the Light Honourees. The Silent Witnesses represent women who lost their lives because of men’s violence against women.
Sahra Adan Bulle, went missing on Friday, May 26, 2023. Twelve days later, her husband of eighteen years was arrested and charged with her murder. On April 10, 2024, Sahra’s mother, Fartumo Kusow, was invited to participate in a Press Conference regarding Bill 173, Intimate Partner Epidemic Act, 2024, at Queen’s Park. Fartumo Kusow became a strong advocate to end the epidemic of domestic violence in Ontario after Sahra’s death.
From a young age, Sahra was thoughtful and kind. At school, she would reach out to anyone who was excluded and make sure they felt included. If the group didn’t accept that child, Sahra would sit with them, showing her compassion. She couldn’t stand to see anyone left out or mistreated.
She was more than the victim of a terrible crime—she is a compassionate daughter, a loyal friend, and someone who made sure everyone around her felt cared for. Her story should not be reduced to her final days. Instead, we ask you to remember her for her kindness, her generosity, and the light she brings into the world.
The remains were identified on Feb. 26, 2019 as those of Samantha Lambert, a 19-year-old food bank volunteer from St. Catharines who had been reported missing since September 7th, 2018. Prior to Samantha’s disappearance she started displaying characteristics of someone being groomed for trafficking, including changes in behaviour and hanging around “a different crowd” largely consisting of older men. She was coming home with expensive items that there was no explanation for how she got them. She was never allowed to come and see her family without those older men there. They said they were taxi drivers just helping to transport her. It was also evident that drugs were being made accessible to her as well.
Samantha’s mother, Yvonne reminds us that she was so much more than what happened to her. Samantha was a daughter and a friend to so many. She loved being around her friends. She was a true extrovert, making friends wherever she went; at school, dance class, on her street, even going to the park. Samantha’s laughter was infectious, and she had a unique ability to bring joy to those around her. Her childhood was marked by strong bonds with family and friends, who cherished the time spent together.
Yvonne also wants victims of trafficking to know that if you are being trafficked, you can tell your parents. They won’t be mad. They love you. As a parent/ caregiver, if your child tells you they are in trouble, believe them. They may need your love and support to get to safety. You may feel like this couldn’t happen in your backyard, but it does. It happens all along the 401 corridor.
To learn more about the signs of Trafficking, visit the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking. If you are being trafficked The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is operating 24 hours, 7 days a week. For assistance, call 1-833-900-1010 or use the Chat function on their website.
Illumination Dates
Alberta:
University of Alberta HUB Mall - Edmonton - Nov. 1, 2024
Red Deer City Hall - Red Deer - Nov. 1, 2024
Calgary Tower - Calgary - Nov. 2, 2024
High Level Bridge - Edmonton - Nov. 3, 2024
Epcor Tower - Edmonton - Nov. 3, 2024
Saline Creek Pedestrian Bridge - Fort McMurray - Nov. 3 & 12, 2024
Reconciliation Bridge - Calgary - Nov. 25, 2024
British Columbia:
Arts Hub & Railspur Alley - Granville Island - Nov. 1, 2024
Archie Browning Sports Centre and Waterpark - Esquimalt - Nov. 1 & 25, 2024
Science World Vancouver - Vancouver - Nov.15, 2024
Civic Plaza - Surrey - Nov. 15, 2024
Fraser River Footbridge - Quesnel - Nov. 15, 2024
Lafarge Lake - Coquitlam - Nov. 15, 2024
Pinetree Way Light Column - Coquitlam -Nov. 15, 2024
BC Place (Northern Lights)- Vancouver - Nov. 25, 2024
Vancouver Convention Centre & Arms of the Cauldron - Vancouver - Nov. 25, 2024
Victoria Parliament Building - Victoria - Nov. 25, 2024
Fitzsimmons Creek Bridge - Whistler - Nov. 25, 2024
Canada Place Sails of Light Port of Vancouver - Vancouver - Nov. 25, 2024
City of Nanaimo Bastion - Nanimo - Nov. 25 - 27, 2024
Saanich Municipal Hall - Saanich - Nov. 25, 2024
Manitoba:
WINNIPEG Sign - Winnipeg - Nov. 3, 2024
Esplanade Riel Bridge - Winnipeg - Nov. 3, 2024
Selkirk Water Tower - Selkirk - Nov. 25, 2024
New Brunswick:
Promenade Waterfront Tower - Bathurst - Nov. 1, 2024
Fredericton City Hall - Fredericton - Nov. 15-30, 2024
Queen Elizabeth Park (Downtown) - Miramichi - Nov. 24-20, 2024
Avenir Centre, Downing Street & Downtown Place - Moncton - Nov.25, 2024
Newfoundland & Labrador:
St John's City Hall - St. John’s - Nov. 25, 2024
Cabot Tower Signal Hill - St. John’s - Nov. 25, 2024
Gander Town Hall - Gander - Nov.25, 2024
Northwest Territories:
Deh Gáh Secondary School - Fort Providence - Nov. 2024
Nova Scotia:
Halifax City Hall - Halifax - Nov. 3, 2024
Nova Scotia Legislature - Province House - Halifax - Nov. 3-8, 2024
Ontario:
CN Tower - Toronto - Nov.1, 2024
3D Toronto Sign - Toronto - Nov.1, 2024
Chatham-Kent Civic Centre (Atrium) - Chatham - Nov.1, 2024
Guelph City Hall and Market Square - Guelph - Nov.1, 2024
CO-OP Régionale - Verner, Echo Bay, Noelville, Thornloe and Sudbury - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Niagara sign at Regional Headquarters - St. Catherines - Nov. 1-7, 2024
City Hall - Windsor- Nov. 1-7, 2024
Kingsville Neon Sign - Kingsville - Nov.1-30, 2024
London City Hall - London - Nov.1-30, 2024
JA Taylor Building - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
RBC Place London - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Canada Life - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Canada Life Place - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Sifton Properties Ltd. - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Fire Headquarters - London - Nov.1-30, 2024
Holy Cross Santa Cruz - London - Nov.1-30, 2024
Libro Credit Union on York - London - Nov.1-30, 2024
London Public Library - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Peggy Sattler Constituency Office - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Peter Fragiskatos' Constituency Office - London - Nov. 1-30
Nash Jewellers - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
London Abused women’s Centre - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Horizon Solutions - London - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Women's Rural Resource Centre - Strathroy - Nov. 1-30, 2024
Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino - Windsor - Nov. 1-10, 2024
Fred A. Lundy Bridge - Newmarket - Nov. 2, 2024
City Hall and Springer Market Square - Kingston - Nov. 2, 2024
Bridge Street Bridge, Fire Station 1 Memorial and the BELLEVILLE sign - Bellville - Nov. 4-10, 2024
Storybook Gardens Purple Tree and Skating Trail - London - Nov. 10 - 30, 2024
The Peace Bridge - Fort Erie - Nov.13, 2024
Metro Toronto Convention Centre - Toronto - Nov.15, 2024
“Heart Barrie” sign - Barrie - Nov.15, 2024
Carl Zehr Square - Kitchener- Nov. 15, 2024
Vaughan City Hall - Vaughan - Nov. 15, 2024
Niagara Falls - Niagara - Nov. 25, 2024
Brampton City Hall Clock Tower - Brampton - Nov. 25, 2024
Mississauga Civic Centre Clock Tower - Mississauga - Nov. 25, 2024
Shaw Centre - Ottawa - Nov. 25, 2024
Prince Edward Island:
City Hall Tower - Charlottetown - Nov.25, 2024
Quebec:
La Grande Roue de Montréal - Montréal - Nov.25, 2024
Montréal Tower (La Tour de Montréal) - Montréal - Nov.25, 2024
Saskatchewan:
Park next to Mosaic Stadium - Regina - Nov. 24-30, 2024
Prairie Wind Monument - Saskatoon -Nov. 25, 2024
Yukon:
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary School - Whitehorse - Nov.15, 2024
International:
Malcolm Fraser Bridge - Canberra, Australia - Nov.15, 2024
Canberra Times Fountain - Canberra, Australia - Nov.15, 2024
Canberra Metro Light Rail Stations - Canberra, Australia - Nov.15, 2024
Lane Cove Tunnel Portal Lights - Sydney, Australia - Nov.25, 2024
WestConnex - Sydney, Australia - Nov.25, 2024
Adelaide Oval - Adelaide, Australia - Nov.25, 2024
Bolte Bridge - Melbourne, Australia - Nov.25, 2024
St. Anthony Falls Bridge - Minneapolis, U.S.A - Nov.25,2024
Brighton Pier - Brighton, England - Nov.25, 2024
County Buildings - Tralee, Ireland - Nov.25, 2024
Princes Quay, Tralee - Tralee, Ireland - Nov.25, 2024
Ashe Memorial Hall - Tralee, Ireland - Nov.25, 2024
Killarney Town Hall - Killarney, Ireland - Nov.25, 2024
City Hall - Sligo, Ireland - Nov.25, 2024
2024 Sponsors
