Tributes to victims on 32nd anniversary of Montreal's Polytechnique mass shooting
People gathered silently in front of Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique Monday to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of what's widely believed to be Canada's worst mass shooting specifically targeting women.
The shooting took place on Dec. 6, 1989, when a gunman separated men from women students inside the engineering school before opening fire and killing 14 women and injuring others.
On a wet, gloomy morning, representatives of the school and student associations laid white roses in front of a commemorative plaque honouring the 14 lost lives.
Clementine Lesec and Gael Reynal, representatives from one of Polytechnique's student unions, stood together, reflecting quietly on the tragedy as others placed wreaths.
Lesec, a 22-year-old master's student in biomedical engineering research, said that as a woman walking the school's corridors, her mind often wanders toward the victims.
"I am not afraid of what could happen, but I am always thinking about them," Lesec said. "I am here. I am lucky and I must make the most out of it."
Sarah Dorner, a professor in the department of civil, geological and mining engineering at Polytechnique, said she vividly remembers the massacre.
"I was in high school when it happened, and I remember Nathalie Provost, a survivor who was shot four times, and I remember her words … Don't be afraid," said Dorner, who has taught at Polytechnique since 2007.
"It became an inspiration for a lot of women of my generation."
Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade was among the small crowd, saying she was there primarily as an alumnus of Polytechnique.
"I don't have my spokesperson with me today, I just came with flowers like I do every year on Dec. 6, because it's very emotional," said Anglade, who graduated in 1996.
"To think about their lives, what they could have been and you tell yourself that you have a duty to continue and to fight against violence toward women."
Later in the day, at 5 p.m., another ceremony was held on the belvedere of Mont-Royal, looking over the 14 beams of vertical light shining from downtown. Mourners read out the 14 victims' names and laid white roses before a memorial photo.
The women killed that day were:
- Anne-Marie Edward, chemical engineering student
- Anne-Marie Lemay, mechanical engineering student
- Annie St-Arneault, mechanical engineering student
- Annie Turcotte, materials engineering student
- Barbara Daigneault, mechanical engineering student
- Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, nursing student
- Geneviève Bergeron, civil engineering student
- Hélène Colgan, mechanical engineering student
- Maud Haviernick, materials engineering student
- Maryse Laganière, budget clerk in the École Polytechnique's finance department
- Maryse Leclair, materials engineering student
- Michèle Richard, materials engineering student
- Nathalie Croteau, mechanical engineering student
- Sonia Pelletier, mechanical engineering student
A recent spate of femicides in Quebec -- with an unofficial count putting the number at 18 since January -- has renewed discussion of the issue, but it also has some advocates lamenting a lack of progress over gun control and in the fight to end violence against women.
MPs held two moments of silence in the House of Commons Monday to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women that was declared in 1991.
The first was requested by Speaker Anthony Rota, at the end of members' statements, during which MPs from all parties addressed the issue of violence against women.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland later asked all women MPs to stand for a second moment of silence after she answered the day's first query during question period on the subject.
"Violence against women is just unacceptable," she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement condemning the hatred of women that led to the 1989 killings.
"As we remember the victims of this hateful, cowardly act, we are also reminded that, for countless women, girls, and gender diverse people in Canada and around the world, violence is a daily reality," Trudeau said.
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said the tragedy that befell the victims at Polytechnique "must never happen again."
"We must denounce unacceptable behaviour, teach our children and our loved ones to respect one another, and set an example," O'Toole said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a statement that violence against women has to be eliminated in all its forms. "Women and girls deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities," he said.
Fourteen beams of light representing the shooting victims will be projected into the sky Monday evening from Mount Royal, where Trudeau, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante are set to be present. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers are asking crowds not to gather.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2021. With files from Erika Ibrahim and Mia Rabson in Ottawa. With files from CTV News Montreal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.