December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a day that we commemorate in Canada. This is the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, in which an armed student murdered fourteen women and injured ten others in the name of "fighting feminism". They died because they were women. This act of gender-based violence shocked the nation.
December 6 represents an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
Please do your part and help end all forms of violence against women and girls.