A memorial bench was unveiled in London to honor Cheryl Lynn Sheldon, a local woman who was murdered in June. The bench, located at the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre, was dedicated to Cheryl by her family, friends, advocates, and local politicians. Cheryl, 62, was found with life-threatening injuries in an apartment building and later died in the hospital. George Kenneth Curtis, 44, has been charged with second-degree murder in her death. It was reported that Cheryl had sought help from a local women’s shelter before her death but was unable to get a bed due to lack of space. Advocates are emphasizing the devastating impact of violence against women and the importance of not forgetting the victims like Cheryl.
Fabienne Haller, a local violence against women advocate, highlighted the importance of remembering the victims of femicide and ensuring that they are not forgotten. She stressed that women killed through femicide often become invisible and their names are quickly forgotten by society. The European Institute of Gender Equality defines femicide as the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender, which can take various forms including intimate partner violence, torture, misogynistic slaying, and “honour” killings. The Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability report revealed that in Canada, a woman or girl is killed violently every 48 hours, primarily by men.
Haller and Megan Walker, the former executive director of the London Abused Women’s Centre, organized a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the memorial bench dedicated to Cheryl. The bench serves as a permanent place for people to remember Cheryl and reflect on the impacts of violence against women. Part of the money raised will also help the family cover Cheryl’s funeral expenses. Cheryl was laid to rest near family in Fitch Bay Cemetery in Quebec. Mark Sheldon, Cheryl’s brother, who travelled from Quebec for the ceremony, described his sister as a brave, good person who never hurt anybody. He hopes that Cheryl’s case serves as a wake-up call to take action against femicide and address the problem of violence against women.
During the unveiling ceremony, London Mayor Josh Morgan declared intimate partner violence an epidemic and called on the community to address the issue. He emphasized the importance of treating women with respect and advocated for more funding and education about the violence women face and femicide. Mayor Morgan urged individuals to have conversations with the males in their lives about the importance of respecting women and taking action to prevent violence. The event underscored the need for collective action to combat femicide and violence against women in society. Cheryl’s tragic death has sparked a call to action to raise awareness, educate the community, and advocate for change to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
