Today we remember the victims of the December 6, 1989 Montreal Massacre:
Michele Richard 21
Helene Colgan 23
Nathalie Croteau 23
Maryse Leclair 23
Sonia Pelletier 28
Annie Turcotte 21
Maryse Laganiere 25
Barbara Daigneault 22
Anne-Marie Lemay 22
Anne-Marie Edward 21
Maud Haviernick 29
Annie St. Arneault 23
Genevieve Bergeron 21
Barbara Marie Klueznick 31
More than twenty years later, gender-based violence is still an issue. Marc Lepine’s brutal, misogynistic assault on the École Polytechnique may have opened the discussion of men’s violence against women, but so much still needs to be talked about, considered and most importantly, acted upon.
I have a teenage daughter and a preteen daughter. I hope they do anything and everything they ever want to do. It frightens me that someone might tell them they can’t. It frightens me to death to think that someone might use violence to tell them they can’t.
Remember these victims by challenging language in your home, work and community. Demand programs for women, and support those that already exist. Learn more about the current statistics of gender-based violence, sexual assault and why events such as Slutwalk exist. Listen to women, their stories, their experiences, their needs and goals.
And always remember.
