December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, also known as White Ribbon Day. On this day we remember the 14 female engineering students murdered and the other women injured at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6, 1989 by an act of gender-based violence.
Parliament established the commemoration date in 1991. Canadian flags on all federal buildings are flown at half-mast on this day. The Town of Kingsville has lowered flags flying at the Municipal Office to half mast as it does every year on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
On December 6th, we remember the women who were murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal:
- Geneviève Bergeron, 21
- Hélène Colgan, 23
- Nathalie Croteau, 23
- Barbara Daigneault, 22
- Anne-Marie Edward, 21
- Maud Haviernick, 29
- Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, 31
- Maryse Laganière, 25
- Maryse Leclair, 23
- Anne-Marie Lemay, 22
- Sonia Pelletier, 23
- Michèle Richard, 21
- Annie St-Arneault, 23
- Annie Turcotte, 21
The date for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Woman was chosen after the tragedy at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. But this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Woman is intended also to stand for change against all violence that women experience in our country and around the world.
The Town of Kingsville also commemorates the missing and murdered Indigenous women, the trans-women and every woman in Ontario and worldwide who have been injured or who have lost their lives to gender-based violence.
Women and Gender Equality Canada recommends several ways in which to honour the victims of December 6, and all victims of gender-based violence:
- Wear a white ribbon. You can make one at home or order one online.
- Observe a moment of silence at 11:00 am.
- Attend a vigil in your community.
- Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, and share our National Day of Remembrance post.
- Today and throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (from November 25 to December 10), add your voice to the conversation and share the ways you are being part of the solution to end gender-based violence. Use the hashtag #16Days.
- Learn more about the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV campaign and how to get involved
Image by S. Hermann/ F. Richter from Pixabay