Most university students today were not even born when a gunman opened fire at a Montreal University in 1989 and killed 14 women.
But, on Dec 6th (tomorrow), the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, Chantelle Spicer, chair of the VIU Students Union said it is still a part of the vigil on campus.
“There are a number of students who don’t realize what the day is actually about, and the Canadian context of it. It’s really great to have an opportunity to talk with folks on campus about the impacts of that day and the way that they still resonate with the post-secondary community and the women’s movement in general.”
Today, we focus as much on the Montreal massacre as we do violence against women in our society in general.
Spicer said it’s also an opportunity to consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
The event at VIU starts at the cafeteria at one o’clock tomorrow (Thurs).
Spicer says, “In the past we’ve read biographies of the women who were murdered but the families have actually asked for that not to happen anymore because, although they want their family member remembered, it’s also a part of a larger conversation. They are really calling on the public to move beyond these 14 women and really recognize this is something that is faced by thousands of women in our country every year.”
In Duncan, the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society is hosting a vigil at the Sands Funeral Chapel. It starts at 5:30.
