Honouring National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women 2024

On Dec. 6, campus community members are invited to honour and remember the lives of those who have died as a result of gender-based violence.

Lit candles — memorial image

Across Canada, Dec. 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, which provides an opportunity to commemorate and honour the 14 women who were killed in an act of violent misogyny at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal on Dec. 6, 1989. It also presents an opportunity to remember people who continue to die as a result of gender-based violence, as well as those who live with violence today.

On Dec. 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

All members of the U of A community are invited to join the following events on Friday, Dec. 6 to honour these 14 women, to remember the lives of all of those who have died as a result of gender-based violence and to support those who continue to live in violence:

  • Campus Saint-Jean and the Coalition des Femmes de l'Alberta are jointly organizing a commemorative ceremony at 12:15 p.m., in the presence of the dean and members of the administration of Campus Saint-Jean and the U of A. This solemn commemoration will take place at the entrance of Pavillon McMahon, at the foot of Patrick Jacob's Trinity statue, a work of art paying tribute to the victims.

  • Augustana Campus will have a memorial display of 14 roses in the Forum and banners placed between the Lougheed Centre and Founders' Hall to acknowledge the 14 women who lost their lives.

  • Engineering will hold an official moment of silence at 11 a.m. at the commemorative plaque near the ETLC Solarium. Everyone is welcome to attend. White ribbons will be available in ETLC at the plaque and Donadeo-ICE 9 at the dean's reception desk.

You can also honour those impacted by wearing a white ribbon and participating in an initiative through the United Nations' 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.


Learn more about U of A's Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response and the Options Navigation Network

The University of Alberta is committed to the safety, health and well-being of our faculty, staff and students. Every day, we advance this commitment to safety through the Culture of Care.