The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Friday at noon the annual vigil was held on the steps of City Hall to commemorate the murder of the 14 female students at the Ecole Polytechnic in Montreal, who lost their lives simply because of their gender. This tragic event happened in 1989 and, as a result, for the last 12 years December 6 has been declared National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Since December 6 fell on a Saturday this year, the vigil was held on the Friday. There were about 30 men and women who came out to take part in the local vigil. Brad McDougall spoke about the White Ribbon Campaign and went on to say, "The origin of the White Ribbon Campaign is the 1989 massacre at the Ecole Polytechnic in Montreal. A man with a grudge against women decided it was okay to make a point by taking the lives of as many women as he could. What did it matter? They were only women and they were taking his place in the school of engineering. How could a woman be allowed into engineering before a man? Didn't that make him less than a woman? It's bad enough to be called a woman but to be less than a womanÉ he sure showed them!" Do you remember what you were doing when you heard? Were you outraged? Amazed? The group was encouraged to speak out against violence against women and to take an active role in learning more about violence against women, in all its forms Ð physical, mental, emotional and sexual. Talk with your wife, girlfriend or someone who can give you their perspective. Learn how you can help. Call the Women's Resource Centre for guidance and other resources. By remaining silent we condone the actions of those who would perpetuate violence against women. After Colleen Arnold gave everyone the latest statistics on the incidences of violence against women, the group was asked to spend a moment in silence to remember those women who have suffered from men's violence against them, particularly the 13 injured and 14 murdered at the Ecole Polytechnic. After the vigil everyone was invited to attend a luncheon put on at the Centre.
