A sombre anniversary being marked this Saturday (December 6) provides the opportunity to reflect on what still needs to be done to reduce violence against women.
On December 6, 1989, 14 women were murdered in a horrific anti-feminist attack at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. It remained the deadly mass shooting in Canada until 2020 when 22 were killed by a gunman in Nova Scotia.
Peterborough Haliburton YWCA executive director Kim Dolan says there was hope that the Montreal massacre would be a catalyst for far fewer incidents of violence against, and abuse of, women but, 36 years on, there remains much work to be done.
Dolan says positive attitudes toward women must be taught and nurtured early in childhood if there’s to be any hope of progress.
Dolan is encouraged by the marked increase in women “with strong voices” standing as one and calling out violence and abuse in all its forms.
A vigil to remember the Montreal massacre victims and reflect on what still needs to be done will be held Friday (December 5) at noon at Peterborough City Hall.
(Written by: Paul Rellinger)
