The government of Quebec and the city of Montreal are calling on citizens to remember the 14 women murdered 34 years ago at the Polytechnique Montréal in the largest mass murder to shock Canada.
On December 6, 1989, a man, Marc Lépine, stormed into the École Polytech in Montreal armed, killed 14 women and injured 13 people in cold blood before taking his own life.
To highlight this painful memory, the City of Montreal, like every year, is organizing commemorations on Mount Royal in collaboration with the Memory Committee, Polytechnique Montréal and Moment Factory.
On the occasion of this commemoration, the sky of Montreal will be illuminated in memory of the victims by lighting 14 torches one after the other starting at 5:10 p.m., when the names of the 14 victims of this attack will be called. anti-feminist.
A minute’s silence will then be observed and 14 roses will be placed in front of the mosaic with photos of the victims, the city of Montreal said, adding that flags at city hall will fly at half-mast.
Photo agency QMI, Joêl Lemay
“The attack on Polytechnique marked a turning point and brought to the attention of Montreal and Quebec the devastating consequences of violence against women and girls,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said in a press release.
For their part, Prime Minister François Legault and the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron, underline the importance of honoring the memory of the victims of the Polytech femicide 34 years ago.
“On this national day of remembrance and action against violence against women, we have an obligation to remember the 14 women who were murdered on December 6, 1989 because they were women,” said Mr. Legault.
“At the University of Montreal, white ribbons will be distributed and the central tower of the Roger Gaudry Pavilion will be soberly lit in remembrance,” Polytechnique Montréal said, adding that flags will be flown at half-mast from morning to night.