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6h ago

Canada Marks 36 Years Since Polytechnique Massacre With Vigils and Calls to Act

Leaders used the 36th anniversary to press for stronger action against gender-based violence.

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At the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick, photos of the École Polytechnique victims were on display in the engineering department, and roses were laid at a monument dedicated to them.
The 14 women murdered at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989 are remembered during the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women at MacEwan University in Edmonton Wednesday Dec. 6, 2017.

Overview

  • Polytechnique Montréal held morning wreath‑layings and an evening display of 15 beams over Mount Royal, with the names of the 14 women read at 5:10 p.m. and an added light honoring all femicide victims.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the Montreal ceremony, saying progress has fallen short and signaling plans to tighten bail conditions in intimate partner violence cases and bolster enforcement of gun laws.
  • Quebec Premier François Legault urged citizens to report suspected abuse, while Montreal’s mayor and federal leaders issued statements reaffirming commitments to safety, equality and survivor supports.
  • Universities and communities across Canada hosted memorials and vigils, including campus events in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and a student‑built monument at the University of Toronto.
  • Workshops highlighted present‑day harms such as online abuse, including a University of Lethbridge session on how technology both enables violence and supports prevention and reporting.