Show your support - Canadian Living

Remembering December 6, 1989

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the massacre of 14 students and staff at L'École Polytechnique de Montréal, three women recall the horrific day and how it changed them forever.

Dec. 6 was an attack on L'École Polytechnique and all our students. We remember the names of the women who died, but there were many other victims. In January of the new term, for example, one student went to Student Services for a new agenda. When he was asked why he wanted one, he said it was because his had a bullet hole in it.

This tragedy is like any traumatic event: We have found a way to live with it. But there isn't one week that goes by that I don't think about Dec. 6, 1989. It's like remembering the Second World War. Whenever the world is disgraced, we want society to evolve to not experience anything like this again.

Diane Riopel is a professor of industrial engineering at L'École Polytechnique de Montréal. For 10 years she has held the position of Marianne- Mareschal chair, which was created in 1998 to promote engineering among women.

How you can show your support
Since 1991, YWCA Canada has been producing Rose Buttons (buttons with an image of a rose on them) to commemorate the young women killed at L'École Polytechnique de Montréal and raise awareness about violence. The buttons are 50 cents each. Funds go to organizations that work with victims of violence or in violence prevention. Order your button at www.ywcacanada.ca; click on Rose Button Campaign.
– Toni Petter

The 14 women killed at L'École Polytechnique de Montréal

Genevieve Bergeron, 21, scholarship student majoring in mechanical engineering
Hélène Colgan, 23, mechanical engineering student
Nathalie Croteau, 21, mechanical engineering student
Barbara Daigneault, 22, mechanical engineering student and teaching assistant
Anne-Marie Edward, 21, chemical engineering student and member of the university's alpine ski team
Maud Haviernick, 29, metallurgical engineering student
Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, 31, nursing sciences student at the University of Montreal
Maryse Laganière, 25, budget clerk in the school's finance department
Maryse Leclair, 23, metallurgical engineering student
Anne-Marie Lemay, 27, mechanical engineering student
Sonia Pelletier, 28, mechanical engineering student
Michèle Richard, 21, metallurgical engineering student
Annie St-Arneault, 23, mechanical engineering student
Annie Turcotte, 21, metallurgical engineering student