For the first time ever, Windsor is marking the 'Transgender Day of Remembrance'.
Although the day has been around since 1998, this is the first time the local trans community has observed it.
Windsor-Essex Transgender and Allied Support hosted the service Monday night at the Emmanuel United Church on Lincoln Road.
Executive Director Jayce Carver says it's all about raising awareness.
"Often times people feel like trans health care and trans services and supports stop in Toronto and London and we want to make sure that we're visible in this community and people know that we are working on creating partnerships with health care systems to make sure that they gain better access and having this is just a way of becoming more visible in our community."
Windsor-Essex Transgender and Allied Support hosts Windsor's first 'Transgender Day of Remembrance' (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
She says trans numbers are far higher than the average person may realize.
"Stats done by the 'Trans Pulse Project', which was done in Toronto, say that there's a 0.1%, if there's 400,000 people in our area, there's 20,000 trans people in our area. Most of them not out and I think that once we become more visible in our community you'll see more people coming out."
Carver adds, it was a bittersweet event.
"Because we're here to memorialize lives lost, we hope to not have to have this event forever, but then there's the side that also we're very excited that for the first time we could bring an event like this to Windsor-Essex. The trans community is growing in this area and we wanted to definitely be visible and know we are doing work here to make it a safer community."
Windsor-Essex Transgender and Allied Support hosts Windsor's first 'Transgender Day of Remembrance' (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Several community groups attended the service to lend support including the Windsor Police, Windsor Pride, the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and the Run for Rocky.
Guests to treated to live music from the Can-Am Friendship Centre and the Windsor Light Music Theatre as well.