Montrealers quietly mark anniversary of Polytechnique shooting

Sunday marked 31 years since 14 women were killed in a mass shooting at Montreal's cole Polytechnique.

This year, ceremonies were scaled back andmostly held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There wereonly a handful of peopleat avigil held inCte-Des-Neiges.

Survivor Nathalie Provost said this year was particularly difficult, but she still had tofind a way to honour the women who lost their lives in 1989.

"Even if we have COVID, even if we cannot gather all together, this is better than nothing," she said.

"They're not just names, they're real peoplefor me."

For organizers, Sunday was also an opportunity to shine a light on the broader issue of violence against women.

Canada has designated Dec. 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a chance to mourn and demand concrete policies to protect women across the country.

Fourteen beams of light, representing each of the Polytechnique victims, were projected into the sky from a lookout on Mount Royal on Sunday evening.

MontrealMayor Valrie Plante, Polytechnique director Philippe Tanguy, and the sister of one of the victims, Catherine Bergeron, laid a wreath of roses in honour of the women who died.

cole Polytechnique massacre remembered 30 years later

5 years ago

Duration 6:23

Canadians marked the 30th anniversary of the cole Polytechnique massacre by remembering the 14 women killed. This is the first time the mass shooting was officially recognized as an anti-feminist attack, with many vowing to do more to prevent violence against women.

Plante also encouraged local residents to light a candle in memory of the victims.

For Provost, although she couldn't mark the anniversaryasshe usually would, she said her thoughtsare with the families and she wanted them to knowtheir loved ones will never be forgotten.

"I love them," she told CBC. "Ihave the profound conviction that those 14 women are still with us, alive in a way. They are alive in me."