Polytechnic massacre | “The duty of memory is more relevant than ever”

Families of victims, dignitaries and members of the public gathered on Tuesday to commemorate the 33e anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre, against the backdrop of the debate on gun control in the country.


“We are still there, because the duty to remember is a source of action and we must work tirelessly to build an egalitarian, open and peaceful society, where women do not die because they are women,” said then declared the president of the Memory committee, Catherine Bergeron.

“Knowing that the duty of memory is more relevant than ever and that we must remain vigilant”, continued the one whose sister, Geneviève Bergeron, perished during the tragedy of December 6, 1989.

Moments later, around 5.10 p.m., the time the first shots were fired 33 years ago, 14 beams of light flashed on the Kondiaronk lookout above the city center in calling out the name of each victim.

The Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and the Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, in turn laid a white rose in memory of these women, as did several other dignitaries who accompanied them.

After the ceremony, Catherine Bergeron explained that she wanted to speak specifically on the subject of violence against women, and not on the issue of gun control, on which she prefers not to comment.

Politicians speak out

This did not prevent the politicians present at his side during the ceremony from taking the ball, at a time when the rag is burning in Ottawa since the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) broadened without warning the definition of weapons which would be prohibited under its Bill C-21.

“It is important to continue to fight against violence against girls and women by concrete means, whether with shelters or at the level of the banning of assault weapons”, estimated for its part the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante.

“Not only do we have a duty to remember, but we have a duty to continue to act against gender-based violence,” declared the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, adding later that he considered his bill could help on that front. “We banned the weapon used at Polytechnique,” ​​he also specified.

“It is important that everyone is vigilant. We need governments, yes, but there are still women who, in 2022, are abused or even murdered by their husbands, so there is still work to be done, and we all have a responsibility,” said the Prime Minister. of Quebec, Francois Legault.

An unexpected exit

The controversy surrounding Bill C-21 led this week the star goalkeeper of the Montreal Canadiens to make an unexpected exit on the social network Instagram where he criticized the piece of legislation, a few days before the commemorations of the Polytechnique massacre.

Contrary to what the organization of the Montreal Canadiens had said the day before, he was well aware of the existence of the Polytechnique massacre, according to what he explained on Tuesday.


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