Thursday December 4, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated 3:49 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Update after the vigil – photos:
Finance Minister Brenda Bailey was a student at McGill in Montreal in 1989 when the Montreal Massacre happened at Polytechnique Montréal. She outlined how women have experienced an evolution in how society deals with violence against women.
MLA Jennifer Blatherwick who is Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity emceed the outdoor vigil on the steps of the BC Legislature on December 4.
Univeristy of Victoria Mechanical Engineering student Nora Keegan outlined her experience with sexual harassment in one of her classes at the campus.
As posted pre-event:
The BC government will be marking the 36th Anniversary of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
A memorial vigil will be held at the BC Parliament Buildings– on the front steps, 501 Belleville St. 12:30 pm.
The Victoria weather forecast for December 4 includes rain with a temperature of about 7°C.
The vigil will be hosted again this year by Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity.
The vigil can be attended online: Livestream link.
Remembering:
It has been 36 years since the murder of 14 young women at Polytechnique Montréal (December 6, 1989).
The shooter selected women at random as part of his anti-feminist viewpoint.
On December 6, the 14 fallen women are remembered:
- 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
Misogyny:
That act of violent misogyny in 1989 shook the country and was a wakeup call to a significant societal problem related to gender.
Canada’s Parliament designated December 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
Wear a white ribbon:
As part of remembering:
- Wear a white ribbon. You can make one at home or order one online.
- On December 6: observe a moment of silence at 11 am.
- Attend a vigil in your community.
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NEWS SECTIONS: EVENTS | WOMEN IN SOCIETY