Executive Council
December 5, 2013

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Joan Shea, Acting Minister Responsible for the Status of Women:

Provincial Government Remembers Victims of the Montreal Massacre

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House of Assembly today to honour the memory of 14 young women who were killed during what we now refer to as the Montreal Massacre.

It will be 24 years ago tomorrow, December 6, that the lives of these women were taken at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, simply because they were women.

More than two decades later, this horrific event is a chilling reminder of the devastating effects of violence against women.

In 1991, in memory of these women, the Federal Government designated December 6 as a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. Tomorrow, flags at Confederation Building will be at half-mast from sunrise to sunset to mark this day.

Mr. Speaker, far too many women in our province live with violence every day. In 2012, 54 per cent of the 5,847 violent crimes committed in the province were against women. During the past seven years, the two police forces in our province reported more than 20,000 incidents of violent crimes against women. 

These facts represent a huge societal issue that we all have a responsibility to address.  Through the Violence Prevention Initiative, our government is proactively working with community partners and stakeholders to identify long-term solutions to preventing violence against women.

The purple ribbon lapel pin that we wear today symbolizes the memories of women we have lost to violence.

Mr. Speaker, let this ribbon also symbolize the hope that comes from our collective efforts to end inequality and violence against women.  I encourage everyone to learn more about how they can bring an end to violence against women.

As a reminder to us all of the events of December 6, 1989, I will read the names of those 14 women who died that day into the record of this House of Assembly: 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, Annie Turcotte.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to ask that we all take a moment of silence to remember these women, and all the women whose lives have been impacted by violence.

Thank you.

2013 12 05                                        2:00 p.m.