Dawson College remembers 20th anniversary of fatal shooting

The Dawson College community gathered Friday to mark the 20th anniversary of the shooting that killed 18-year-old student Anastasia De Sousa and wounded 19 others.

The shooting took place on Sept. 13, 2006, when a gunman opened fire inside and outside the college.

Students, alumni, staff, families and supporters gathered at the college’s commemorative Peace Garden to remember those affected by the tragedy and reflect on how the community responded in the years that followed.

“The Dawson community was in total shock,” said Richard Filion who was the director general of Dawson at the time of the shooting. “No warning signs had been registered that would have allowed us to anticipate and prevent such an evil deed.”

Among those remembering De Sousa was her mother, Louise De Sousa, who continues to think about the life her daughter might have had.

“I always think, would she be married, would she have children? And when there’s certain events that happen, it hits me,” she said.

Louise said Anastasia would have enjoyed seeing people gathered together to remember her.

“She’d be saying, alright, I have action going on here. She would have been really happy,” Louise said. “That’s the type of person she was.”

Remembering Anastasia

Pink was prominent throughout Friday’s commemoration, a tribute to Anastasia’s favourite colour.

“Well, pink was her favorite color from being very small,” Louise said. “Actually, her friends in high school called her Malibu Barbie.”

For Dawson shooting survivor Hayder Kadhim, remembering Anastasia is also a reminder to persevere.

“As a friend, I knew that she had some challenges to overcome,” Kadhim said. “When I remember her now and knowing that, how can I not also push through?”

Survivor Meaghan Hennegan said the shooting changed her understanding of resilience. “It’s shown me the true definition of resilience when you have to reach down inside yourself and, you know, hold on to anything you can to keep from just crumbling,” Hennegan said.

Hennegan recalled being among the first people shot outside the college.

“I was one of the first people shot outside, everything kind of blended together,” she said. “It seemed to last an eternity and go by in a second at the same time.”

Dignitaries reflect on tragedy

Montreal and Quebec dignitaries, including current and former officials, were also in attendance for Friday’s ceremony.

Former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who was premier at the time of the shooting, recalled meeting Anastasia’s parents in the aftermath.

“One of the most difficult moments of that episode in our lives was to lose this young, beautiful lady named Anastasia,” Charest said.

He also recalled speaking with Anastasia’s father, Nelson De Sousa.

“I never forgot that conversation, Nelson,” Charest said holding back tears. “Because we all thought of how terrible these things are in our lives. But what do we do with them?”

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada also spoke about the importance of moving forward together.

“To find a way forward together,” she said. “You refuse to let tragedy have the final word. That is the strength of Dawson, and that is the strength of our community.”

Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher was also at the ceremony. In his new role as president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Dagher said tackling long guns, including the SKS rifle, will be a key priority.

“We can’t afford that in Canada, not in the community we live in,” Dagher said. “So you can count on me. This is going to be a major priority for me.”

Anastasia’s memory lives on

Following the ceremony, Louise De Sousa and others gathered at the Peace Garden at Anastasia’s Loop, where three pink heather plants were planted in her memory.

Students from Dawson’s Peace Studies Certificate program were also invited to sow seeds as part of the tribute.

For Kadhim, the ceremony was an opportunity to focus not only on the tragedy but on the memories of the person Anastasia was.

“Remembering her just brings you a lot of good memories and good vibes,” he said. “Always had a smile on, always was ready to have fun.”

Sunday will mark the official 20 years since the tragedy, a day Louise is always observed by going to the cemetery followed by a meal with family remembering Anastasia for her warmth, but also her teenage personality.

“Yes, she had a beautiful smile, and she was fun and loving, but she was also a little brat,” Louise laughed. “She was a teenager, you know. But we remember everything that she did,” she said.

Twenty years after the shooting, the Dawson community continues to honour Anastasia’s memory while emphasizing peace, resilience and the importance of moving forward together.