Make Music Matter was recognized at the Senate of Canada on Persons Day 2018. We thank Senator Marilou McPhedran for the warm welcome! Below is the statement that was shared in the Red Chamber on October 18, 2018.
1st Session, 42nd Parliament
Volume 150, Issue 237
Thursday, October 18, 2018
The Honourable George J. Furey, Speaker
Persons Day
Welcome to Make Music Matter and Ms. McClung
Honourable Senators,
It’s Persons Day – no woman senator would be in this Chamber today without the win in the Persons Case. At the core of why the Famous Five fought is gender equality. Yesterday Senator Andreychuk told us about why Dr. Denis Mukwege and Ms. Nadia Murad received the Nobel Peace Prize. Again, the heart of this Nobel went to the struggle worldwide for gender equality and the right to live free from violence.
With us in the Chamber, we have Manitoba’s Darcy Ataman, Founder and CEO of Make Music Matter, and Ms. Shannon Johnson, Director of Operations.
Make Music Matter is the Canadian charity that pioneered Healing in Harmony, which began with Dr. Mukwege in the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DRC. University researchers are confirming substantial ground-breaking on the lives of sexual assault and rape survivors. Through their partnership with Dr. Mukwege and others, Make Music Matter has been able to use music as a tool for healing, giving survivors an avenue to be heard and to heal internal wounds.
I also wish to recognize the solidarity and collaboration among genders to address feminist issues. Dr. Mukwege and Mr. Ataman are both examples of how engaging men and boys is a successful approach to achieving greater gender equality, security and healing for survivors of gender-based violence.
Today Senators, today is Persons Day. As we speak of a feminist agenda or of the recognition of gender equality, let us remind ourselves that it was 1929 that Canada recognized women as “persons.”
Dans les tribunes nous avons avec nous la petite-fille de Nellie McClung. Madame Marcia McClung continue de garder le travail de sa grand-mère, femme reconnue parmi les Célèbres cinq, en vie pour combattre l’inégalité du genre et promouvoir l’inclusion des femmes dans la vie politique.
It is my pleasure, along with Ms. McClung to be welcoming the Canadian Women’s Foundation to the Hill tonight as we celebrate Persons Day at a reception from 5 pm to 7 pm in room 256-S.
I encourage you, colleagues, to stop by and join us in celebration of this milestone in Canadian history.
Thank you, merci, miigwetch.
