Maritime vigils honour Montreal Massacre victims, addresses violence against women

Vigils were held at universities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in remembrance of the 14 women killed at Montreal's École Polytechnique in 1989 in an anti-feminist attack.

Vigils were held at universities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in remembrance of the 14 women shot and killed at Montreal’s École Polytechnique in 1989 in an anti-feminist attack.

All these years later, the vigils also highlighted why violence against women is an ongoing problem.

The date of the Montreal Massacre, Dec. 6, marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

“This is an important day for folks in our sector, folks who are passionate about gender-based violence, folks who have been impacted by gender-based violence to come together and remember not only what happened 36 years ago, but the ways that gender-based violence continues today and is embedded within the fabric of our social institutions,” said Sarah Rodimon, the executive director of the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre in Halifax.

Rodimon, who attended a vigil at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, said gender-based violence is a particularly important conversation in Nova Scotia because the province has high rates of intimate partner violence.

Nova Scotia adopted a bill in September 2024 that declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.

“(It) is crucial that our politicians continue to take gender-based violence seriously, continue to support the crucial work of gender-based violence organizations on the front lines who are not only supporting survivors, but preventing gender-based violence before it occurs,” she said.

“It’s not only life-affirming, it’s also life-saving.”