'Tragedy into a triumph': 14 beams of light shine as Montreal Massacre remembered

Hundreds stood silentlyFriday evening at the top of Montreal's Mount Royal to remember thewomen killed at cole Polytechnique 30 years ago.

Fourteen beams of light one for each woman illuminated the city skyline, in what has become an annual tradition to mark the Dec.6, 1989 shooting.

"Thirty years ago these women's respective lives and destinies were shattered, which has left us with the obligation to reflect on this loss.It's been 30 years already, and it'sstill important to remember," said Catherine Bergeron, whose sister,GeneviveBergeron, was among those killed. She was 21.

"Tonight,I'm reminded that uniting the spirit of solidarity and tenderness, we all turn the tragedy into a triumph of the human spirit."

Two currentstudents at the school,which is part of the University of Montreal,read each of the women'snames aloud. They are:

• Genevive Bergeron.
• Hlne Colgan.
• Nathalie Croteau.
• Barbara Daigneault.
• Anne-Marie Edward.
• Maud Haviernick.
• Maryse Laganire, the employee.
• Maryse Leclair.
• Anne-Marie Lemay.
• Sonia Pelletier.
• Michle Richard.
• Annie St-Arneault.
• Annie Turcotte.
• Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.

Family andfriends were joined by a host ofdignitaries includingPrime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Franois Legault, Montreal Mayor Valrie Planteand Gov. Gen. Julie Payette.

In her own address, Payettesaid she herself was studying engineering when the attack occurred.

Sadly, anti-women rhetoric remainscommonplace in society, she said.

Victims of cole Polytechnique massacre

5 years ago

Duration 3:27

These are the 14 women killed during the Montreal Massacre on Dec. 6, 1989, during an anti-feminist rampage at an engineering school.

"To the belittling, the dehumanizing, the name-calling that we observe so often, especially to any women who raise their heads above the crowd, we have to say, 'no.'"

Trudeau, for his part, said we must all continue to fight together "against gender-based violence" and for stronger gun control.

This year, to mark the 30th anniversary, 14 institutions across the countryfrom Memorial University of Newfoundlandin St. John's to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver also paid tribute to those who were killed.

PM makes remarks at cole Polytechnique memorial

5 years ago

Duration 1:53

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke during the 30th anniversary ceremony to commemorate the 14 young women who were murdered during the Montreal Massacre.

Visions of equality

Friday evening's ceremony was the culmination of a series ofevents marking the30th anniversary.

Earlier, dozens of people gathered around aplaque commemorating those killed for asolemn and emotional wreath-laying ceremony.

Several cried, others bowed their heads as some put downbouquets of white roses in front of the plaque.

Jean-Pierre Bernard showed up first, as snow blewaround the granite plaque engraved with 14 names 13 students and oneuniversity employee.

Bernard went to high school with one of the 14 women, Sonia Pelletier, "a very generous girl who helped guys. It was amazing because I was so bad in math and she was so bright, and she was helping everyone around her."

"So this morning, 30 years later, I think I ought to come here," he said.

"It's important as a man. I have two daughters myself and I'm hoping that they will live in equality with everyone else."

Soon after, politicians held a moment of silence in the House of Commons.

"We're here to mourn the loss of these women, these girls, sisters, friends and colleagues," Trudeau said.

"Each December, as we honour the memories of those 14 women, the survivors and the families, we promise to do better."

Shifting memories

A new sign was dedicated Thursday atthe Place-du-6-dcembre-1989, a memorial park nearthe university campus.

The city changed the wording on the park'ssign to specifically refer to the killings as an "anti-feminist attack" rather than simply a "tragic event."

"I think it's a step in the right direction, to say that this was an act against women, an act against feminists,"Plante said.

The university's engineering school, now known asPolytechnique Montral, presented this year's Order of the White Rose a $30,000 bursary awarded to a female engineering student to dith Ducharme.

Ducharme, an accomplished pianist who balances artistic interests with graduate research in engineering physics, said she hopes to serve as a role model to girls interested in science.

"I feel really honoured, and I can't stop thinking about the women who were killed, so I'm really going to try to pursue their dreams in my career," she said.

Natalie Provost, a survivor of the shooting, said at the announcement Ducharmesymbolizes"the interrupted dreams of my classmates."