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Montreal Massacre remembered in Gibsons

More than 50 people attended a candlelight vigil last Friday at Kinsmen Hall in Gibsons to mark the 30 th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. The names of the 14 women murdered Dec.
Dec. 6 memorial
More than 50 people gathered at Kinsmen Hall on Friday for a candlelight vigil in honour of the 14 women who were killed in the Montreal Massacre 30 years ago.

More than 50 people attended a candlelight vigil last Friday at Kinsmen Hall in Gibsons to mark the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The names of the 14 women murdered Dec. 6, 1989 at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal were read aloud by members of the Sunshine Coast Labour Council (SCLC), which hosted the event in collaboration with Sunshine Coast Community Services (SCCS).

Dec. 6 has been named The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women as a result of the mass shooting, and a focus on violence against Indigenous women and girls became a focus in this year’s speeches, due in part to the June publication of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

SCCS victim services manager Denise Woodley recalled thinking, “Could this unbelievable act happen here?” when she first heard the news over the radio on the way to an exam while at university. 

“Here we are today, 30 years later, and the unbelievable is still happening, that women, particularly Indigenous women, are still facing violence,” said Woodley. “Today there is more awareness and gender equity than 30 years ago, however until there is equality for Indigenous women there is not equality for all.”

She and fellow speaker Kim Tournat, constituency assistant to Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, highlighted that Indigenous women are three and a half times more likely than non-Indigenous women to experience violence.

Woodley acknowledged the need “to stand up to misogyny and advocate for more resources in our community,” and both speakers said creating awareness through everyday conversations and building relationships were important preventive measures.

“By empowering Indigenous communities, we build relationships and through relationships is where true healing can begin,” Tournat said.

Following a moment of silence and speeches, an SCLC representative told the crowd, which included Town of Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish and Coun. David Croal, that the Canadian Labour Council plans to lobby for the federal government to begin the ratification process for International Labour Organization’s C-190, a convention tackling workplace violence and harassment.