12th Shine the Light campaign tree-lighting illuminates London, Ont.

In support of the annual Shine the Light campaign, a tree at the southwest corner of Victoria Park will be lit purple for the month of November.

The southwest corner of Victoria Park in London, Ont., is shining bright for the London Abused Women’s Centre’s 12th annual Shine the Light campaign on Monday night.

In support of the annual campaign, a tree at the southwest corner of Victoria Park will be lit purple for the month of November.

The tree stands as a symbol of hope and a visual sign to women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence. In front of the tree were cutouts of 15 women and girls from the London community who have been killed by gender-based violence.

“We have seen an increase in service demand for years and when the month of November comes around, we are increasing awareness the number of women reaching out for services tends to increase and that number tends to not go down,” said Jennifer Dunn, executive director of LAWC.

“What we are seeing in the community is not going away, so we need to continue having campaigns like this to be able to talk about it and raise awareness.”

The purpose of the campaign is to shift the blame from women who feel it’s their fault to the perpetrators of the abuse, Dunn said.

Over the last year, LAWC has reported a 45-per cent increase in women accessing their urgent supports.

Throughout the month of November, people are encouraged to wear purple and to put purple lights outside of their homes or businesses to show women and girls who are abused that they are not alone.