By: Laura Keil

A coffeehouse-style event marked Prevention of Violence Against Women Week at the Gathering Tree last Saturday.

The hour-long event featured a dozen musicians, poets and speakers including John Crowley and Gord Peters on guitar and singing, Jayme Duerksen, Donalda Beeson and Nancy Taylor reading poetry, a speech from Dianne St. Jean, and piano pieces by Laura Keil.

About 20 people came for the event. Dueksen, who organized the event as part of her job with the Robson Valley Support Society, says she wanted something a little different from the Dec. 6th Ecole Polytechnique memorial events, which are more somber in tone.