Remembering the Montreal Massacre: How a 1989 Tragedy is Still Sparking Conversation Around Gender-Based Violence

On Dec. 6, 1989, a gunman entered a classroom at École Polytechnique in Montreal and separated the male engineering students from the female students. Later identified as Marc Lépine, he murdered 14 women and injured over a dozen more before turning the gun on himself. His actions were motivated by a deep-rooted hatred for women, and his suicide note contained the names of 19 other “radical feminists” that he blamed for ruining his life. 

In 1991, the Canadian Parliament designated Dec. 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. White ribbons are worn to commemorate the 14 victims, and spark conversations around the tragic effects of gender-based violence. Following the devastation of the Montreal Massacre, the Canadian government also adopted stricter national gun control measures, creating a national firearm registry and banning the sale of semi-automatic and military assault weapons.

What is Gender-Based Violence?

Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to any form of violence, whether physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual, that is perpetrated based on gender. Anyone can experience GBV, but women and gender-diverse people are disproportionately affected. GBV is a pressing issue in Canada, with 240 women and girls murdered in 2024 alone.

Local Events

University of Victoria’s own Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science hosted an on-campus event on Dec. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to remember the victims of the École Polytechnique massacre. Attendees were invited to wear purple in support of ending GBV and to honour the lives lost.

Broadview United Church will host a vigil on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:00 p.m. to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The event will include speakers like Marlene Goley, Kathryn Lacerte, and Gulsen Kok, who work closely with women’s organizations in the community.

I encourage you to take a moment to remember the victims of the Montreal Massacre, and honour them by wearing purple or white on Saturday. Most importantly, start hard conversations with your friends and family, and educate them on the harms of gender stereotypes. To learn more about how to get involved, check out the White Ribbon Campaign website for a selection of video resources. Together, we can raise awareness on the subject and work to end GBV in Canada.

• college
• December 6th
• engineering
• feminism
• gender
• Gender Biases
• mental health
• women in STEM
• women's rights