It was 32 years ago today, Dec. 6, 1989, that Marc Lepine entered a mechanical engineering class at the École Polytechnique school in Montréal and ordered the women and men to opposite sides of the classroom.
He separated nine women, instructing the men to leave. He stated that he was "fighting feminism" and opened fire. Lepine shot at all nine women in the room, killing six. He then moved through corridors, the cafeteria, and another classroom, targeting women and killing eight more before turning the gun on himself.
École Polytechnique has held a number of tributes over the past week and today, 14 beams of light representing the shooting victims will be projected into the sky from Mount Royal tonight. Representatives and student associations from the school will lay white roses in front of a commemorative plaque.
In honour of the women killed, but also to acknowledge the violence against women that still permeates, Dec. 6 is now known as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and falls during what’s now known as the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign that begins on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until Dec. 10, known as Human Rights Day.
In Sudbury, the YWCA Sudbury Genevra House have used the 16 days to encourage and offer ways to end gender-based violence, including education and awareness. On the evening of Dec. 6, they will be hosting a vigil to remember all those who have suffered, from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Civic Memorial Cemetery on Second Avenue.
The women and children who have been staying at Genevra House have already started creating paper lanterns to be used at the vigil, and others can create theirs by arriving by 5:30 p.m. today.
The City of Greater Sudbury and Laurentian University will be flying flags at half-mast in honour of the national day of remembrance and Sudbury political leaders have voiced their support of the day, and the end to gender-based violence.
Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe spoke to the misogyny and hatred behind the actions. “Today we honour the 14 women who lost their lives to misogyny and hatred at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.”
Today we honour the 14 women who lost their lives to misogyny and hatred at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. They died because they were women. Rendons hommage à ces 14 femmes et mettons tout en œuvre pour mettre fin à cette violence pour de bon. #WeRemember pic.twitter.com/x5euKXdgMD
— Viviane Lapointe (@VivianeLapointe) December 6, 2021
Sudbury MPP Jamie West added a message on his social media today. “It’s National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women. Increased violence against women and gender diverse individuals throughout the pandemic highlights the work that still needs to be done. Today we remember victims of gender-based violence & pledge to do better.”
Its National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women. Increased violence against women and gender diverse individuals throughout the pandemic highlights the work that still needs to be done. Today we remember victims of gender-based violence & pledge to do better. pic.twitter.com/o6rwYov6UO
— Jamie West (@jamiewestndp) December 6, 2021
Greater Sudbury Police tweeted a photo of an officer and included an acknowledgement to the day.
“National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women, we honour the memory of the young women who were murdered at the École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989. We're committed to #EndGBV; to providing the best service to survivors; & to holding offenders accountable.”
National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women, we honour the memory of the young women who were murdered at the École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989. We're committed to #EndGBV; to providing the best service to survivors; & to holding offenders accountable. pic.twitter.com/wLXTbppXNR
— Sudbury Police (@SudburyPolice) December 6, 2021
