This Saturday, December 6, marks the anniversary of two tragedies. For Haligonians, the one that might immediately leap to mind is the Halifax Explosion, which took place on December 6, 1917.
But this year marks an important milestone for another horrific event: the 25th anniversary of the L’Ecole Polytechnique tragedy in Montreal.
The killings, driven by the misogyny of shooter Marc Lépine, are still to this day the worst mass murder in Canadian history. In all, 14 women were killed and 10 women and four men were injured when Lépine opened fire. He targeted women in particular, leaving a suicide note stating he intended “to send the feminists who [had] always ruined [his] life, to their maker.”
Since that year, the event has become a rallying point in support of ending violence against women and combating misogyny. December 6 is now the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and universities across Canada mark the day in solidarity with those who senselessly lost their lives. Engineering programs are particularly active in celebrating the Day of Remembrance and Action, given that Engineering students were targeted in the tragedy.
For those interested in marking the occasion, Halifax offers a couple of different options:
- The Dalhousie Undergraduate Engineering Society and Women in Engineering are hosting a vigil on Dalhousie’s Sexton Campus Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge. The one-hour event will feature a short service with speakers and a candle lighting for each victim.
- South House and the Dalhousie Feminist Legal Association are sponsors of the "Not So Silent" December 6 Vigil, which takes place Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. at the Halifax North Memorial Library. It will be immediately followed by a gathering at the Company House with food, spoken word, music, action, sharing and inspiration, featuring performances and speakers such as El Jones, Carmel Mikol, Megan Leslie MP, Women Next Door and more.