A ceremony of meditation, to honor the memory of the 14 women murdered at École Polytechnique in 1989, will take place Monday evening in Montreal.
• Read also – “Still work to do” 32 years after Polytechnique
• Read also – Letter to my daughters and sons: 32 years after the worst day of my life
On this National Day of Remembrance and Action against Violence Against Women, the City invited citizens to pay tribute to the victims. The event will take place on Mount Royal, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., where the projection of 14 light beams will light up the sky.
“The memory of this attack in which 14 young women lost their lives, 32 years ago, is still painful and unfortunately, for too many women, violence continues to be part of everyday life today”, indicated the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante
- Listen to the interview with Nathalie Provost, survivor of the Polytechnique attacks at the microphone of Richard Martineau on QUB radio:
“As we remember the victims of this cowardly and hateful act, we also remember that for countless women, girls and people of diverse gender identities in Canada and around the world, violence is a daily reality,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“This threat, which has been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, is unacceptable and must be eliminated. That is why, on this day, we reaffirm our commitment to denounce all forms of violence against women and to act accordingly, especially during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which is coming to an end. December 10, ”he added.
- Listen to Sophie Durocher and Marie-Claude Barrette on QUB radio:
On Monday, in support of the victims, the flags of Montreal will be at half mast and a minute of silence will be observed during the late evening ceremony. The Samuel-De Champlain Bridge will also be illuminated to honor the memory of the 14 victims and to support the national appeal against violence against women.
“The need for better support has been felt even more over the past 20 months. Our government is committed to adopting strong measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all Canadians, ”said Rachel Bendayan, Member of Parliament for Outremont for the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ).
“On this December 6, let us remember, so that violence against women will finally end and that all girls and women, without exception, have the future that belongs to them,” added Ms. Plante.
“We all win when women and girls can live their lives to the fullest and free from violence,” said Justin Trudeau.
The Government of Canada announced in Budget 2021 an investment of $ 600 million over five years to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. This 10-year plan must address the root causes and systemic problems that perpetuate violence against women, including in the legal and justice system, and ensure that survivors have timely access to support services and measures. protection.