December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders of 14 young women in 1989 at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women. They 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
Annie Turcotte
This day provides communities and individuals with an opportunity to speak out against all forms of violence against women and its impact on victims, their families and friends.
November and December are important months for raising awareness about gender-based violence in Canada and around the world. In addition to the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women took place on November 25th. It marked the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which ends on December 10th, with International Human Rights Day.
