Events to mark 36 years since Polytechnique attack, honouring 14 women slain in 1989

Polytechnique Montréal honoured the 14 women murdered in the 1989 anti-feminist attack, with ceremonies, tributes and calls from leaders to confront gender-based violence.

Polytechnique Montréal and others across the country will pay tribute on Saturday to the 14 women who were murdered at the engineering school 36 years ago in a brazen anti-feminist attack.

During a windswept morning ceremony at the Montreal school, wreaths and bouquets of white roses were laid in front of a commemorative plaque at Polytechnique’s main building.

Members of the school community took part in the early morning event, including Polytechnique Montréal president Maud Cohen.

“It’s a time to commemorate the events, what happened, and to remember these young women, their dreams, and what they ultimately wanted to do: become engineers,” Cohen said Saturday.

“But for us, it’s also a time to look to the future and see how, as a university, we can ensure we make a difference for women in engineering.”

In the evening, 15 beams of light will illuminate the night sky above Mount Royal for the 14 victims killed in the attack, along with an additional light for a second year in a row added for all victims of femicide.

Families of the victims, dignitaries and political leaders including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Quebec Premier François Legault, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez-Ferrada and Quebec Lt.-Gov. Manon Jeanotte will all attend the evening ceremony.

At 5:10 p.m., the time of the first shots in 1989, fourteen beams of light will rise, one by one, as the names of the women who perished in this antifeminist attack are called out. The lights will remain lit until 10 p.m.