30 Years - Marking the Montreal Massacre; A Crime Against Women

30 Years – Marking the Montreal Massacre; A Crime Against Women

Thirty years after that wrenching loss of innocence, many candles have been lit, white ribbons worn and December 6th declared a National Day of Action against violence against women.  Today, no one disputes that indeed this was a crime against women.

“Ann Davis Transition Society (ADTS) has consistently held a service every year to mark this crime against women”, says Patti MacAhonic ADTS, executive director, “and in the past 3 years we have partnered with the University of the Fraser Valley to further raise awareness not just this horrific incident but the violence against women that continues in Canada today.”

In 1989, twenty-five-year-old Marc Lépine, armed with a legally obtained Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle, shot twenty-eight people before killing himself at the École Polytechnique in Montreal.    It is chilling  to know that one man had nurtured such a hatred for women seeking to advance themselves in their chosen field, that he strode into a classroom and after segregating the women from the men, shot all nine of the women; accusing them of being feminists and killing 6 of them.  He continued through the school and killed 14 women, injured 10 women and 4 men in total.   The gender-selective attack shocked all of Canada and moved Parliament to declare Dec. 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada in 1991.

Locally our violent crime has risen nearly 70%. With unaffordable housing we have the highest ratio of homeless women at 40% in the province, being homeless puts women in an even more vulnerable position and a target for further violence.   Domestic violence continues to be prevalent. Come out and be a part of making a difference in stopping violence against women; our mothers, grandmothers, daughters and sisters. December 6^th at 5 pm at 5 Corners Chilliwack.

Join us …  Light a candle and help us lift the darkness.

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Ann Davis Transition Society provides education, prevention and support services to those affected by abuse or violence. Our vision is to see communities free of violence and abuse. For more information call 604-792-2760 or visit  www.anndavis.org