December 6th is the anniversary of the shooting at École Polytechnique in 1989, where 14 women were murdered. They were explicitly targeted because they were women.

On December 6, we remember:

  • Geneviève Bergeron
  • Hélène Colgan
  • Nathalie Croteau
  • Barbara Daigneault
  • Anne-Marie Edward
  • Maud Haviernick
  • Maryse Laganière
  • Maryse Leclair
  • Anne-Marie Lemay
  • Sonia Pelletier
  • Michèle Richard
  • Annie St-Arneault
  • Annie Turcotte
  • Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz

On the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, we mourn the lives of these women and reaffirm our commitment to addressing the ongoing misogyny and gender-based violence that continues to undermine all women’s safety and well-being. “Gender-based violence… is one of the most
pervasive, deadly, and deeply rooted human rights violations of our time. [It] can take many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as technology-facilitated violence”(Women and Gender Equality Canada, 2022).

Today is also a time to commit to taking action. Ending violence against women requires all of us to educate ourselves, our families and communities on gender-
based violence, to center the voices of survivors and to speak up against harmful behaviours. Together, we can build a world free of gender-based violence.

View our calls to action to learn more about steps you can take to end violence against women.

 

From the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention, Education and Response