It’s important to recognize key dates in history as major events in the past frame and define who we are as a people today. A difficult yet important event and anniversary in our December calendar and in our collective Canadian memory was December 6th – the Montreal Massacre at École Polytechnique, the engineering school at the University of Montreal. This year marked the 21st anniversary of the tragic event.
A deranged, lone gunman did the shooting. Fourteen women, mostly young engineering students, died in this attack. It shocked our nation and the world, but it actually led to greater national awareness and consciousness about violence against women and the need to eliminate gender-based violence across Canada. To mark it, December 6th is now the national Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against women, with the national “White Ribbon Campaign” to combat violence against women in homes, schools and workplaces.
Another notable outcome of the shooting was the achievement of Mrs. Suzanne Edwards, a Montrealer and mother of Anne-Marie Edwards, one of the engineering students killed in the attack. Mrs. Edwards’ relentless effort in her daughter’s memory was instrumental in leading toward the creation of a National Gun Registry and application of stricter rules for the ownership of guns (especially automatic weapons) by Canadian citizens.
The Montreal Massacre at the École Polytheqnique will be forever etched in our national memory – part of our collective experience as Canadians. Let’s all learn from it.
The White Ribbon Campaign is a national initiative underscoring peaceful resolution to problems and the reduction of gender-based conflict. In our 16th year as a coed school, I want to openly affirm and support LCC’s commitment to gender equality and the reduction of violence against women.
As we enter the holiday season, remember this is indeed the season of peace, friendship and the warmth of family gatherings. May your holiday be restful. During some of your quiet time, please reflect on how you are, and can be, a peace-maker. Happy holidays and best wishes for 2011. —Chris Shannon, Headmaster