Honouring 36 years since the Polytechnique massacre

On the morning of the 36th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre, bouquets of roses were laid Saturday in front of the school’s main building, near the commemorative plaque, in the presence of representatives from the school and student associations. 

The school’s President, Maud Cohen, participated in the commemoration.

The school’s director general, Maud Cohen, participated in the commemoration. 

“December 6th is a really important moment for us,” she told The Canadian Press. “It’s a time to commemorate the events, what happened, to remember these young women, who they were, their dreams, what they wanted to do… To become engineers, ultimately.”

Cohen also indicated that this date was a way to look to the future and ensure that École Polytechnique continues to make a difference for women.

“I often give a very inclusive speech on Dec. 6th, saying that anyone who wants to thrive in engineering can do so, regardless of their background, disability, or situation,” she added.

The president of the Polytechnique Student Association (AEP), Gabriel Comby, also attended the ceremony. When asked about the importance of student association presence at the event, Comby expressed a desire to find ways to further protect women from violence.

“This is a duty of remembrance that is extremely important for the 14 victims, for their families and for all women who are victims of violence in Canada and around the world,” he stated.

The president of the Polytechnique Graduate Student Association (AÉCSP), Imane Chafi, was also present at the wreath-laying ceremony. She emphasized that this event directly affected students and that it was therefore important for representatives to be present and to continue to be so in the future. 

“What’s great is that we’re a man and a woman too, so I think we represent students well,” she emphasized.

The vice-president of the office workers’ union, Carmen Elena Membreno-Aguilar, also attended the ceremony. She was accompanied by two women, former engineering students from Concordia University, who declined to speak.

“Rima and Carole were Concordia students at the time of the tragedy, and it really affected them. They came home from their day after their classes, and then they learned about the massacre on TV… It could have been at Concordia,” the vice-president recounted.

Political reactions

Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement Saturday morning to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

“The tragedy of Dec. 6, 1989, was an attack on women and on the values ​​of equality, dignity, and respect that define our identity as Canadians,” he stated. “It compels us, year after year, to fight against gender-based violence wherever it persists and to link remembrance with accountability.”

The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, also spoke this morning about the massacre and the importance of this date in the history of Quebec and Canada.

“This is not just a moment to remember their names. It is a moment to reaffirm our country’s promise: that every woman, regardless of her background or circumstances, can live in safety and dignity,” he said in a statement.

In a message posted on the social network X, the Bloc Québécois recalled that “on Dec. 6, 1989, hatred of women struck Polytechnique, taking the lives of 14 young women and marking us forever. For these victims and all the others since, more must be done so that women can live free and safe.”

The rest of the day’s schedule

Polytechnique Montréal will continue to pay tribute throughout the day on Saturday to the victims of this antifeminist attack.

In the evening, 15 beams of light will illuminate the sky above Mount Royal: 14 beams are in memory of the victims of the attack, to which is added, as last year, a light in tribute to all victims of femicide.

The families of the victims, dignitaries and political leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Quebec Premier François Legault, are expected to attend the ceremony in the evening.

Other events are planned in schools and communities across Canada.

Thirteen other people were injured in the anti-feminist attack perpetrated by Marc Lépine, who then committed suicide. He had made inflammatory remarks, accusing feminists of having ruined his life.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Violence Against Women, also known as White Ribbon Day, takes place on Dec. 6 to commemorate the Polytechnique massacre.

The victims 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, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, and Annie Turcotte.

This week, Polytechnique Montréal honoured them by awarding 14 scholarships of $50,000 to Canadian female engineering students pursuing graduate studies. The awards are part of the 12th annual White Rose campaign, created to encourage women in engineering and to commemorate those killed, those injured, and the community forever changed by the tragedy.

36 years later, the legacy of the victims endures, inspiring efforts to support women in engineering.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews