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Montreal officials will hold a ceremony to mark the 36th anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre today.
A total of 14 women were murdered in the anti-feminist attack on Dec. 6, 1989.
Thirteen others were injured in the attack perpetrated by Marc Lépine, who took his own life. He had ranted about feminists ruining his life.
The shooting led to tighter gun laws in Canada and greater awareness of violence against women. Dec. 6 is now the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
Since 2014, a ceremony has been held on Mount Royal with people such as the mayor, premier and prime minister in attendance, with exceptions during the pandemic. Fourteen beams of light are typically lit at 5:10 p.m., the time of the shooting.
Last year, on the 35th anniversary, a 15th beam was added in memory of all murdered women.
Océane Corbin, a PhD student in communications at UQÀM, spent years immersed in an international incel forum analyzing violent and misogynistic online comments. She warns of a community built on misogyny and explains how to have conversations around these issues with young men.
In the morning, representatives from Polytechnique Montréal and student associations will lay white roses at the memorial plaque located on the school’s campus, as they have done for more than 30 years.
Members of the public are invited to pay their respects at the plaque.
Those killed in the massacre were: 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 and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.
