Triple-X Commemorates International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (#IDEVASW)

Vancouver, BC. | December 17, 2024
By A. Sorfleet

It was a dirty night for weather. It’s pitch dark at five these days, and driving rain, though warmer than usual for this time of year in Vancouver. Thank goodness we found parking nearby, and have a great heater in our ‘78 Chevy pick-up.

At five minutes to six, we headed to The West End Sex Workers Memorial with our wreath (featuring lilies and a placard reading “#IDEVASW”) and candles and some brochures. Will and I began setting up for photos, making use of the bench in front of the entrance to St Paul’s Anglican Church. Passersby watched curiously, and soon a pair of senior parishioners stopped us and asked us what it was about. Pointing to the placard on the wreath, one asked, “What do those letters stand for?”

*Triple-X Workers’ Solidarity Association of B.C. places wreath to commemorate #IDEVASW. (Photo: Will Pritchard)*

“#IDEVASW stands for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers,” Will replied.

“Thank you so much for doing this,” the other replied. The elderly couple invited me to come along with them into the church, and invited me to stay and keep warm if I liked.

I offered them a copy of our press release explaining the occasion, and a small stack of our new brochures which they accepted enthusiastically. They were very interested in the history of The West End Sex Workers Memorial. Apparently, that night they were congregating to welcome their new pastor.

(Link to Press Release: https://triple-x.org/about/pr/pr-241216.pdf )

We were a little anxious to show the brochure to churchgoers as the brochure makes several references to St Paul’s Church.

(Link to Brochure: https://triple-x.org/pdf/SWMemorialBrochure-2024.pdf )

When I emerged from St Paul’s, there was Triple-X First Director Annie Smith, having just arrived off the Davie St. bus. We all huddled around the memorial lamp post to light candles and remember those who were victims of violence and murder in Canada over the past year. Our press release for the event lists the names from media reports.

*Here I am with Annie and a big bouquet of white lilies for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. (Photo: Will Pritchard)*

Afterwards, with our red umbrellas up in the driving rain, we headed down Davie St. to find a warm destination for a bit of supper and to catch-up.

After supper, Will and I decided we would drive over the Burrard Bridge and check out the red lights for a possible photo. We grabbed this tempestuous video.

(Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GMcw44e4SbI)

*Vancouver City Hall lit up in red. (Photo: Elaine Ayres)*

The City of Vancouver granted our request to light up both the Burrard Bridge and City Hall in support of the event. Triple-X supporter extraordinaire Elaine grabbed this photo of The Hall from West 12^th Avenue.

We posted photos and our press release on our social media, and we received lots of likes and reposts, as well as some nice comments. (Our original post on X received 65 likes and 25 reposts so far.) Despite the weather, the Triple-X event was a success, and the lilies in the wreath bloomed for three weeks after.