On December 6, 1989, an armed man entered an Engineering class at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. After he forced the men to leave, he said he ‘hated feminists’ and began shooting the women students in the class. He continued onto the rest of the school, firing at women on the campus. At the end of his rampage, he had murdered 14 women and committed suicide.
In response to such acts of violence, Canada established December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women. It is a reminder of this national tragedy, and provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the nature of gender-based violence across the country.
At UBC, we want to recognize that violence against women is an ongoing reality, influenced not only by sexism, but also by poverty, racial discrimination, colonialism, and other factors. While we remember this tragic event and honor the women who died, we also want to think critically about why we remember this act as a national tragedy, when so many acts of violence against women are not memorialized in this way.
- UBC Engineering’s 14 Not Forgotten page
- UBC Engineering Undergraduate Society Facebook
- Facebook: UBC 2015 National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women (Dec 6)
- Share these events on social media with #Dec6 and #Dec6UBC
CBC Montreal – Remember the 14 website
2015 Events
Silent Witnesses
Life-sized silhouettes representing the 14 women will be displayed on campus.
Date: December 1-3
White Ribbon Pancake Breakfast
Join SPD for a pancake breakfast, complete with maple syrup and fruit, to spread awareness about the December 6 campaign and 14 Not Forgotten.
Date: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 7:30 am
Location: The Fred Kaiser Building (Wayfinding at UBC)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/192768614396147/
Hosted by Sigma Phi Delta (Engineering fraternity)
14 Not Forgotten Memorial Ceremony
Join us on December 3rd at 12:30pm in the EDC Courtyard as we remember the 14 women who lost their lives.
Date: Thursday, December 3
Time: 12:30pm – 1pm
Location: Engineering Design Courtyard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/930028013755840/
Mass shootings, Masculinity, and Misogyny: 26 Years After Ecole Polytechnique What’s Changed?
27 years after the mass shooting of 14 women at École Polytechnique de Montréal, we look back and reflect on what has changed? In this panel discussion we will explore the topic of mass shootings, masculinity and misogyny.
Date: Thursday, December 3
Time: 12-1:30pm
Location: AMS STUDENT NEST Room 2508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/949358401815878/
Hosted by Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC)
Candlelight Vigil
Stop by and light a candle to remember the events of December 6, 1989 and acknowledge the impacts that gender-based violence has on all of us.
Date: Friday, December 4
Time: 11am-3pm
Location:AMS STUDENT NEST concourse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1029727173761167/
Hosted by Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC)