December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

The IAM and all Canadians remember the 14 female engineering students who were murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6, 1989 by an act of gender-based violence. We also commemorate the missing and murdered Aboriginal women, the trans-women and each and every woman in Ontario and across the world whose lives have been harmed or lost to gender-based violence.

The 14 women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal, were killed in a gender-based act of violence. They were:

Geneviève Bergeron
Hélène Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz
Maryse Laganière
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pelletier
Michèle Richard
Annie St-Arneault
Annie Turcotte

In 1991, the Parliament of Canada declared December 6th to be the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The day now represents a time to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also a day for communities and individuals to speak out against all forms of violence against women and its impact on victims and their families and friends.

Find out what you can do to end violence against women.

YWCA Rose Campaign
The Rose Campaign is a national advocacy campaign to end violence against women and girls. The Campaign takes its name from the original Rose button , created 27 years ago to commemorate 14 young women who were murdered at l’Ecole Polytechnique, by calling for action on violence against women and promoting strategies to stop violence in our communities.

Each year, Status of Women Canada produces an information kit for individuals and organizations wishing to raise awareness and take action against violence against women. For more information, and to find out about related events in your community, please consult the Status of Women Canada website