GUELPH – Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis is holding a candlelight vigil to honour the life of Charlie Hesselink, who was killed by his father in an act of femicide in 2022.
The community is invited to join the event on May 13 at 7pm at Franchetto Park, 24 Franchetto Blvd., in Guelph.
Children can be both targets and collateral damage in cases of femicide, particularly when those cases involve intimate partner violence (IPV), officials with Women in Crisis stated in a press release.
In Ontario in 2024, 62 people died by femicide, including nine children. And yet, despite declarations of intimate partner violence emergencies made by 100 municipalities across the province, including Guelph, the Ontario government has failed to make a declaration of its own or to fund the issue properly, officials say.
“If we want to prevent tragedies like Charlie’s from happening in our community again, we need to maintain a vocal stand against violence, advocating for deeper levels of commitment to addressing femicide on a systemic level,” the Women in Crisis release states.
“We hope this event gives folks an opportunity both to mourn the loss of a child to violence and to feel seen and heard in their opposition to that violence, whether they knew Charlie or not.”
The gathering will be beside Charlie’s memorial tree along the pathway in Franchetto Park for brief remarks, some community solidarity and a moment of silence to commemorate Charlie.
Masks are required for this event. For those who are unable to make it in person, the event will be livestreamed on the G-W Women in Crisis Facebook page.
Anyone who has been impacted by intimate partner violence or femicide and needs support is encouraged to reach out to the G-W Women in Crisis 24-Hour Crisis Line at 519-836-5710 or 1-800-265-7233.
