December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. In 1991, the Parliament of Canada established this day of mourning and remembrance to mark the anniversary of the murders of 14 female engineering students at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989 in an act of gender-based violence.
The 14 women who were killed in this brutal act 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 and Annie Turcotte.
This day is an opportunity to reflect on violence against women in our society and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. It is a day on which communities and individuals can come together, speak out, and take action to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
Violence against women and girls is the world’s largest and most persistent human rights violation. It transcends all boundaries. The OPSEU Provincial Women's Committee encourages you to stand in solidarity with us on December 6 by attending vigils and commemorative events in your region.