Montreal massacre commemorated in Toronto amid social media calls to end gender-based violence

Commemorations and memorials were held across Toronto as the Governor General, prime minister, Ontario Premier and mayor spoke out on Twitter about the anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique and issue of gender-based violence.

Thestar.com
Dec. 6, 2017
By Bryann Aguilar

As Canadians commemorate victims of the Montreal massacre in 1989 as well as other women who died because of their gender, many are speaking loudly about their commitment to ending gender-based violence.

December 6 marked the 28th anniversary of the attack at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, where 14 women were shot to death and 10 others wounded by Marc Lepine in the worst mass shooting in Canada's history. The date has been held as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women since 1991.

Memorials are held annually across Canada, including in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area to honour the memory of the victims: Nathalie Croteau, 23; Genevieve Bergeron, 21; Helene Colgan, 23; Barbara Daigneault, 22; Anne-Marie Edward, 21; Michele Richard, 21; Maud Haviernick, 29; Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicza, 31; Maryse Leclair, 23; Annie Turcotte, 21; Anne-Marie Lemay, 22; Sonia Pelletier, 23 Maryse Laganiere, 25; and Annie St-Arneault, 23.

Flags at city facilities in Toronto, Vaughan, Brampton, and Markham are flying half-mast in remembrance of the victims. The University of Toronto also lowered flags at all their campuses. Several post-secondary schools, including George Brown College, held ceremonies to mark the anniversary.

Councillor Norm Kelly confirmed on Twitter the Toronto sign will be dimmed Wednesday evening, and the CN Tower will be lit in red in recognition.

In a tweet, Mayor John Tory said to remember the women who were killed and to never stop working until gender-based violence is eliminated.

In Markham, during a council meeting, fourteen roses were laid down to represent the victims of the massacre followed by a moment of silence. The city is also raining a purple flag to mark the anniversary.

"Ending gender-based violence is shared responsibility," Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said in a statement.

Victim Services Toronto will hold a Twitter conversation from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in honour of the victims of the massacre and all victims of gender-based violence. The non-profit group Women Won't Forget will host a candlelit vigil at Philosopher's Walk, near the Royal Ontario Museum, at 6 p.m.

Several prominent Canadian figures, both women and men, took to Twitter to commemorate the anniversary.

Governor General Julie Payette said in a statement that we can break the silence and address inequalities and end all forms of violence by working together.

"Let us stop tolerating the intolerable," she said.

In a tweet posted Wednesday morning, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said we must do more to support women who experience violence and build a society where everyone is safe and respected.

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath said we should all work together to create a province and a world where women and girls are respected, safe from harm, supported, and given every opportunity.

"December 6," "Violence Against Women," "Montreal Massacre," and "ActionsMatter" were each trending on Twitter Wednesday morning as users tweeted their commemoration and thoughts on anniversary of the massacre and issue of gender-based violence.