Family Transition Place holds vigil honouring victims of the École Polytechnique Massacre

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Family Transition Place (FTP) paid tribute to the 14 victims of the École Polytechnique Massacre on the 33rd anniversary of the shooting with a vigil calling for action against gender-based violence. 

Staff, community leaders and residents gathered at the Family Transition Place building in Orangeville, located at 20 Bredin Parkway, on Tuesday (Dec. 6) afternoon for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. 

“Some may wonder why we still acknowledge this day 33 years later, why don't we get over it and move on,” said Lyn Allen, director of transitional programs and housing initiatives at FTP. “But we can't because every day we see images and headlines. We hear sexist jokes and lyrics; we see celebrities and sports figures acting in a way that perpetuates the idea that women are lesser than. We hear who being asked what they were wearing when they were sexually assaulted. We hear how radio hosts and famous film producers abused women while holding positions of power – we know about things closer to home and in our homes, which continue to put women at risk.” 

The École Polytechnique, also known as the Montreal Massacre, took place on Dec. 6, 1989 when a lone gunman separated the men from the women students inside the engineering school before opening fire; killing 14 women and injuring others. 

The 14 women killed in the gender-based attack were 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, Michele Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte.

During the memorial ceremony, FTP staff held signs with each of the 14 victims' names and read them aloud. Attendees were also given the time to speak about individual actions to combat gender-based violence. 

“As we stand here today, we must reflect on the reality that 33 years later, gender-based violence is still a threat to women, to girls and to gender diverse people in Orangeville, Dufferin County, across the country, and around the world,” said Orangeville Mayor Lisa Post.