Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against women.
On this day in 1989, 14 young women were murdered at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal which led Parliament to designate December 6th to remember the lives lost and to take action.
Irene Willsie, Executive Director of the Williams Lake Women’s Contact Society said since then and before then, many women died as a result of violence against them because they were women.
“Today is a day to remember the tragedy of the loss in Montreal. To remember all of the women that have been killed or injured as a result of violence against them, and to think about what you can do to make our communities safer.”
Willsie said this is an issue that is unfortunately alive and well in every community in our country.
“Obviously loss of life is the greatest tragedy, but when children witness violence, that is a traumatic event for them that stays with them and shapes their future. It’s a situation in our society that we really need to think about how are we going to change it and what can I do. Big campaigns and information are great, but it’s when individuals take action and add their voice to the message, that’s what’s really powerful in a community movement,” Willsie said.
Ten women and four men were also injured during that mass shooting at Ecole Polytechnique on December 6, 1989.
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