Every year on December 6, Montreal and Canada pause to remember the 14 women killed in the Polytechnique massacre of 1989. The sombre anniversary, now recognized as Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, sees numerous commemorative events honouring the female engineering students who were murdered in an act of mass femicide.
Keeping Memory Alive and Building a Better Future
"People are attached to paying respect to these women who lost their lives in 1989," said Maud Cohen, president of Polytechnique Montréal. "But beyond this memory there's the question of why they lost their lives. They were targeted because they were women in engineering school. Today, we talk about it as a femicide, an anti-feminist attack."
Cohen emphasizes that the commemorations are also a time to reflect on progress. She points to the school's commitment to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all who wish to study there. A key initiative is the Order of the White Rose scholarship program, which was expanded this year to award 14 recipients, up from just one.
Six Meaningful Ways to Pay Tribute
For those looking to participate, here are six significant ways to honour the victims and the cause of ending gender-based violence.
1. Visit the Commemorative Photo Exhibition (Until Dec. 8)
A poignant photo exhibition, organized by the Polytechnique student association and PolyPhoto, is on display until December 8. It features portraits of 14 current female students and employees, each holding a white rose tagged with the name of one of the victims. The exhibition is located in the tunnel between the main building and the Lassonde Pavilion and is also available online at polymtl.ca/december6.
2. Support the Campaign of the White Rose
This annual national fundraising campaign supports Folie Technique, a science outreach organization founded by Polytechnique students. All proceeds help provide science education opportunities for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. The public can donate by purchasing virtual white roses year-round at the campaign's website, roseblanche.org.
3. Wear a White Ribbon on December 6
Wearing a white ribbon is a simple yet powerful act of solidarity. The White Ribbon Campaign, which began in Toronto in 1991 as a direct response to the massacre, engages men and boys as allies to end violence against women and girls. Ribbons can be handmade or ordered online at whiteribbon.ca.
4. Observe the Wreath-Laying Ceremony (Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m.)
For three decades, representatives from Polytechnique and its student association have gathered at 8:30 a.m. on December 6 at the commemorative plaque on the school's main pavilion. They lay wreaths of white roses in front of the plaque, which bears the names of the 14 victims.
5. Reflect at Place du 6-décembre-1989 Park
Located at the corner of Decelles Ave. and Queen Mary Rd., this park is home to the contemplative art installation Nef pour quatorze reines. Visitors are invited to walk between a series of granite monuments, creating a space for quiet reflection on the lives lost.
6. Attend the Light Beam Ceremony on Mount Royal (Dec. 6, 5:10 p.m.)
For the 12th consecutive year, the city of Montreal, in collaboration with the Comité Mémoire, will project 14 beams of light from the Mount Royal lookout. At 5:10 p.m.—the time the attack began—the beams will be illuminated one by one as the victims' names are read aloud. For the second year, a 15th beam will be lit in memory of all victims of femicide.
These events, detailed at polymtl.ca/december6, offer a path for collective mourning, remembrance, and a renewed commitment to a future free from gender-based violence.