Executive Council
December 6, 2016

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

Provincial Government Remembers Victims of the Montreal Massacre

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On December 6, 1989, a gunman shot and killed 14 young women at Ecole Polytechnique, because he believed they were feminists. This remains one of the worst incidents of mass murder in Canadian history.

Twelve of these women were engineering students, one was an employee of the university and one was a nursing student. All 14 were killed simply because they were women. This horrific event is a chilling reminder of the devastating effects of violence against women and a reminder of the continued struggle that women face every day in our society.

The loss of these 14 women is still felt keenly by their families, their friends, their industry, and their country. It has driven a movement that strives for a society where women are treated with equality and respect, and we still work every day to achieve those goals. We all have the right to come home to a safe home, to socialize with our friends, to attend a medical appointment, to ride in a taxi, to attend university, to work, or to simply walk down the street without fear of being attacked.

Mr. Speaker, November 25 marked the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. It also marked the beginning of the 7^th annual Purple Ribbon campaign to increase awareness and responsiveness to violence against women. This year to highlight the campaign, the Purple Ribbon flag has been raised for the first time at Confederation Building. The flag will remain in place until December 10, coinciding with Human Rights Day and the Close of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Mr. Speaker, Members of this Honourable House are wearing the purple ribbon today in honour of December 6 - the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. In addition this year, we are wearing the white ribbon to mark the 25^th anniversary of the White Ribbon campaign, the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women.

Mr. Speaker, as a reminder to us all of the events of December 6, 1989, I would like to read the names of those 14 women who died that day into the record of the House of Assembly:

Genevieve Bergeron
Helene Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Barbara Maria Klucznik
Maryse Laganiere
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pelletier
Michele Richard
Annie St. Arneault
Annie Turcotte

Flags at Confederation Building will be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset to mark this tragic day.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2016 12 06                              2:10 p.m.