Ceremonies held to mark the 26th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre

On Dec. 6, 1989, Marc Lepine entered an engineering class at Ecole Polytechnique, opened fire, and killed 14 women before turning the gun on himself.

This vigil extended its focus beyond the Montreal Massacre victims and included other issues; specifically missing and murdered Indigenous women and domestic abuse.

In Montreal a ceremony was held to mark the 26th anniversary of the massacre.

In Windsor, men and women gathered at an event held by UNIFOR Local 444. The École Polytechnique was not only a college but also a workplace and two of the women murdered that day were members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

“I’m really pleased with the turnout here today”, said Kashyap.

“We’ve seen a marked increase according to the statistics from Calgary Police Service in the number of calls that they’re receiving, and we know that in every neighbourhood in our community there are relationships that are not healthy and in which women are unsafe”.

“We’re trying to remind people that this is something we need to remember as an important moment in history”.

Kashyap said the memorial has a particular importance to her.

“This December 6, workers are calling on Canadians to join them in demanding justice for our Stolen Sisters and in reaching out to all families of female victims whose lives have been forever altered by acts of violence”, said Coates.

The Women’s Centre Grey and Bruce also wants to use the day to recognize women who have died as a result of domestic violence. “It’s hard for me to speak for all women, we’re all going to experience this in a different way”.

“We’re demonstrating in a plethora of ways the many creative, bold, bright moves that women have taken this year to resist male violence.”