Canada remembers December 6th and the horrors from École Polytechnique

 

Sunday marked the 31st year of remembrance of the 14 women murdered and 13 others injured in an anti-feminist attack by an armed man at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique.

The 2020 commemoration, was one which had to be observed mostly in a virtual fashion with restrictions in place for public gatherings owing to COVID.

The educational institution in Montreal led off the day of remembrance on Sunday, posting their memorials to this website.

It was also a day observed by political leaders at the federal and provincial level.

The Prime Minister issuing a statement of commemoration, as part of the observance of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

In British Columbia Premier John Horgan as well spoke the horror of 31 years ago, while also tying today's commemoration towards larger issues of violence against women and ongoing dangers that women face.

“Each year in Canada, we mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, remembering 14 people who were murdered because they were women, at École Polytechnique in Montreal on Dec. 6, 1989. This misogynist act brought the dangers of sexism to the forefront of Canada’s consciousness – forcing us to reckon with the real-life consequences of sexist attitudes that harm women and hold them back every day.

As we remember the 14 women who were killed on Dec. 6, 1989 – Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte – let’s also commit to supporting and believing survivors of gender-based violence, while working together to build a better future"

You can review the full statement from the Province of BC here.

In Prince Rupert, the usual gathering in commemoration did not take place as it has in the past, one of the many local events which have been suspended owing to COVID.

Locally the North Coast Transition Society observed the day with an online remembrance, posted to the Social media stream for the local organization.

You can learn more about how École Polytechnique Montreal remembered December 6th here.