The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women provides an opportunity to commemorate the 14 women who were killed because they were women on December 6, 1989 at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. It also presents an opportunity to remember people who continue to die as a result of gender-based violence and those who live with violence today.
“The U of A community remembers and honours the 14 women murdered at Ecole Polytechnique and all who have suffered gender-based violence. As a collective, we must advance change and stand united in our position that gender-based violence has no place in society.”
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
All members of the U of A community are invited to join the following events to honour these 14 women killed, 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:
- NASA is hosting its annual ceremony from noon to 1 p.m. on December 6. Attendees can join virtually or in-person at the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy in room 1-420 on North Campus. Following the ceremony, there will be an opportunity for conversation around taking action on gendered violence.
- Campus Saint-Jean is hosting an in-person community event in partnership with Coalition des Femmes de l'Alberta at 10:45 a.m. on December 6 at the MCM building.
- Augustana Campus will have a memorial display of 14 roses in the Forum reception area and banners placed along College Lane to acknowledge the 14 women who lost their lives on December 6.
Additional ways you can honour those impacted include 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.