Zonta Week proclaimed in the Town of Amherst
Nearly four decades of contributions by the local Zonta club to the citizens of this community were recognized on Nov. 24, 2021, with the issuance of a proclamation declaring Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, 2021, as Zonta Week in the Town of Amherst.
“The Amherst Area Zonta Club is part of a worldwide service organization that works for the advancement of women, legally, socially and economically,” Mayor David Kogon said while signing the proclamation on behalf of Amherst town council.
“It is organizations such as the Zonta Club that help make Amherst a great place to live, work and play, and enable us to say, ‘See why we love it.’”
As part of the recognition, the town will fly the Zonta flag at the corner of Church and Albion Streets throughout Zonta Week, beginning on the afternoon of Nov. 25.
“The 16 days between Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Dec. 10, Human Rights Day, are known as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world,” said Dana Fraser, on behalf of the club.
“The Zonta Club and Town of Amherst have issued the proclamation and will raise the flag in support and recognition of this noble campaign.”
The proclamation noted that in the years since the club was formed in 1984, it has helped establish a transition house in Amherst and given donations over the years to many local organizations including Maggie’s Place, the International Women’s Day Committee and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which remembers the women who were murdered during the tragic mass shooting at Polytechnique Montreal on Dec. 6, 1989.
It also noted the club continues to support Autumn House, provides annual education bursaries to mature women, supports the Amherst Food Bank Network and sponsors young girls and disable women so they can attend camps.
For more details on the 16 Days of Activism, please go to the Government of Canada website at: https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/commemorations-celebrations/16-days.html
