On December 6, 1989, 14 female engineering students were shot and killed at École Polytechnique de Montréal.
It has become a nationally recognized day of remembrance and UNBC is paying tribute to what became famously known as the Montreal Massacre.
VIDEO: A traditional welcome being given to begin #MontrealMassacre Memorial at @UNBC @mypgnow pic.twitter.com/eA2jQDNWGG
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) November 30, 2016
Associate professor of geography Zoe Meletis was in attendance in a ceremony held at the school’s Canifor Wintergarden.
“This particular ceremony is sombre, but we also try to give people hope and give them ideas and actions they can take to be better allies to women and girls and to help fight the prevalence of violence against women.”
She says she’s pleased with the amount of men that turned out to recognize the cause.
“I’m very happy to see a lot of men here, particularly my male colleagues. Women and girls need to see that violence against women is not a women’s issue. It’s a societal issue.”
Today's @UNBC memorial to the 1989 #MontrealMassacre is also to raise awareness on violence against women as a societal issue @mypgnow pic.twitter.com/h3zBVuJniI
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) November 30, 2016
Meletis adds the UNBC Women’s Centre has been working really hard to inspire co-operation and collaboration between men and women.
“This is also the end of two weeks of activities called ‘ Inspiring Women Among Us’, and that has much of a celebratory aspect, but does put gender, gender relations, and persistent barriers on the table.”
Several dignitaries came to express their thoughts on the events of 1989 and on violence against women, including UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks and Prince George Mayor Lyn Hall.
PHOTOS: Somber feelings/celebratory thoughts as @UNBC remembers '89 #MontrealMassacre, which saw 14 female students shot & killed @mypgnow pic.twitter.com/yW4OvI6zxh
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) November 30, 2016