'Duty to learn': Vigils mark 35th anniversary of Polytechnique anti-feminist killings
CTV
Braving a biting winter wind, dignitaries gathered in front of Polytechnique Montréal's main campus on Friday to pay tribute to the 14 women killed at the Montreal institution in an anti-feminist attack 35 years ago.
School shooting survivors, dignitaries and the families of victims paid tribute Friday to the 14 women killed in an anti-feminist attack at Polytechnique Montréal more than three decades ago.
On Friday evening, 14 beams of light illuminated the sky above Mount Royal, lit one at a time as the names of the victims were read out. For the first time this year, a 15th beam shone in memory of all victims of femicide.
Families of victims were present for the ceremony along with dignitaries including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier François Legault.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Trudeau said Canada must continue its efforts to prevent future tragedies.
“Tonight, as we gather to mark 35 years since the killing of 14 women simply because they were women at École Polytechnique, we also remember that in the years since, far too many more women are killed or suffer violence, and it has to stop,” he said.
Legault recalled the disbelief he felt when the tragedy unfolded over three decades ago.
“We didn’t think it could happen. That’s why it was shocking," he told reporters following Friday's ceremony.
