12/06/2025
December 6 — National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women
Today, we pause to remember the 14 young women whose lives were stolen at École Polytechnique in 1989. Because on December 6, 1989, a man entered a Montreal engineering school and murdered 14 women while declaring hatred for feminists. That atrocity forced Canada to confront the deadly reality of gender-based violence.
This was not just an act of violence. It was an act of hatred, rooted in misogyny — a painful reminder of how dangerous gender-based discrimination can become when left unchallenged.
Thirty-six years later, gender-based violence is still present in our homes, communities, campuses, workplaces, and online spaces. Survivors continue to carry wounds that are often invisible. Families and communities continue to mourn. And women and girls continue to navigate a world where they are still asked to justify their right to safety, dignity, and equality.
December 6 is not only a day of grief — it is a call to act. To refuse silence. To name misogyny when we see it. To challenge harmful beliefs long before they become harmful actions. To listen to survivors with compassion. To advocate for safer systems, better supports, and a culture that believes women.
How we honour this day:
Light a candle or wear a white ribbon in remembrance
Have conversations about misogyny, consent, and healthy relationships
Support local shelters, crisis lines, and organizations doing frontline work
Educate yourself and others — change begins with awareness
Call out harmful jokes, comments, and “small” acts of sexism
Change starts with YOU!
