SASC remembers victims of École Polytechnique tragedy

On December 6th, 1989, 14 women were murdered in an anti-woman, anti-feminist attack.

Every year on this day we acknowledge the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in their memory.

31 years later gender-based violence continues to take lives. This is not an old problem. In fact, it is getting worse.

Femicide increased 84% in the first half of 2021. There are over 5000 missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people across Canada. November saw the highest number of new intakes to our centre in the history of SASC with 54 people reaching out for the first time.

Our centre is on the frontlines of preventing and responding to gender-based violence, but we need your help. Women and girls will continue to experience harm and even death if we do not all work together to address the underlying causes of this violence.

We need to dismantle the systems of patriarchy, rape culture, racism, and colonialism. We need proper feminist-based sex and relationships education in schools. We need to create spaces for boys and men to unpack and break down toxic masculinity. We need to stop blaming victims and create more resources for supports. We need everyone to be part of the solution.

Follow our Male Allies Program on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@maleallies) to find ways that you can make a difference during the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

If you are struggling we are here to listen. Call our 24 Hour Support Line at 519.741.8633.

In loving memory of all of those impacted by the Montreal Massacre and gender-based violence:

• Geneviève Bergeron (born 1968), civil engineering student
• Hélène Colgan (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
• Nathalie Croteau (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
• Barbara Daigneault (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
• Anne-Marie Edward (born 1968), chemical engineering student
• Maud Haviernick (born 1960), materials engineering student
• Maryse Laganière (born 1964), budget clerk in the École Polytechnique's finance department
• Maryse Leclair (born 1966), materials engineering student
• Anne-Marie Lemay (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
• Sonia Pelletier (born 1961), mechanical engineering student
• Michèle Richard (born 1968), materials engineering student
• Annie St-Arneault (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
• Annie Turcotte (born 1969), materials engineering student
• Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (born 1958), nursing student