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King’s vigil honours victims of Montreal Massacre

King’s vigil honours victims of Montreal Massacre

The King’s community gathered for a ceremony led by students.

Dec. 6, 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. On this day in 1989, 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique by a mass shooter with an anti-feminist agenda.

These women were staff and students at the university and were specifically targeted by the mass shooter based on their gender. Since then, each Dec. 6 has been designated the National Day for Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. A new commemorative plaque unveiled at the university this year recognizes the violence as an “anti-feminist attack.” At King’s, we honoured this day with a vigil display in the A&A lobby dedicated to the 14 women, named below, and all those who are harmed by gender-based violence in all its forms. It was organized by Jordan Roberts, King’s Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Officer, and Rylan Pembroke, a second-year King’s student who serves as the Sexualized Violence Policy Student Liaison.

There was also a gathering and moments of silence at 3:30 p.m. on the front steps of the A&A building. There, Pembroke spoke about the women and why they were murdered, and how social and political forces can intersect to compound injustices. While the day is recognized as a day of remembrance, Pembroke also called for it to become a day of action, so that community members are supported, and future injustices are reduced. Remarks were made in French, too.

An active listener was present at the vigil throughout the day and at the gathering.

The victims and their families remain in our thoughts:

  • Geneviève Bergeron (1968–1989), civil engineering student
  • Hélène Colgan (1966–1989), mechanical engineering student
  • Nathalie Croteau (1966–1989), mechanical engineering student
  • Barbara Daigneault (1967–1989), mechanical engineering student
  • Anne-Marie Edward (1968–1989), chemical engineering student
  • Maud Haviernick (1960–1989), materials engineering student
  • Maryse Laganière (1964–1989), budget clerk in the École Polytechnique’s finance department
  • Maryse Leclair (1966–1989), materials engineering student
  • Anne-Marie Lemay (1967–1989), mechanical engineering student
  • Sonia Pelletier (1961–1989), mechanical engineering student
  • Michèle Richard (1968–1989), materials engineering student
  • Annie St-Arneault (1966–1989), mechanical engineering student
  • Annie Turcotte (1969–1989), materials engineering student
  • Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (1958–1989), nursing student

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