December 5, 2011 - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

SPECIAL SECTION ON DECEMBER 6:22 YEARS SINCE THE MASSACRE AT ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUEDecember 5, 2011Reflecting on December 6: A message from the Gender Equity CommitteeDecember 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This year marks 22 yearssince the École Polytechnique Massacre. This tragic event must not be forgotten.On December 6, 1989, fourteen women were murdered by a man who proclaimed that he was "fighting feminism." Weremember this day to honour those 14 women who were forced to sacrifice their lives, and to remember that much stillneeds to be done to achieve gender equality.Women everywhere continue to live in fear: fear of assault, fear of violence, fear of being victimized. Headlines in NovaScotia alone during the last few weeks, detailing daily accounts of murder and violence against women, have broughthome the reality that women are still at risk of being victimized by hate and this instills a fear that is palpable. Although thisfear should not be denied or ignored, we must continue to stand together against gender-based violence and in memoryof the sacrifices made by women everywhere, including those who were murdered at the École Polytechnique Massacre.On behalf of the Gender Equity Committee, we encourage you to recognize the significance of the sacrifices of the 14women at the École Polytechnique, whose names are listed below. These women, and all women who have sacrificed inthe name of equality, must be remembered and honoured.For the legal profession, December 6 has particular relevance. These 14 women were murdered, in part, because theywere women working to make a place for themselves in a male-dominated profession. As lawyers, we are all privileged towork in a profession founded upon equality and justice. That privilege obligates all of us to ensure that both our professionand the justice system are open and accessible to all people, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or physicalability. We must continue to work towards eradication of the fear, and replace it with empowerment and equality.Please take a moment on December 6 to reflect on the women of influence in your lives and in this profession, thesacrifices they have made, and the impact they have had on your lives and your practice.If you have any thoughts or comments about the continuing impact of December 6, 1989, or how this day of remembranceresonates with the issues of violence against women today, we would really appreciate the opportunity to hear yourthoughts and to publish them in the next issue of InForum. Please write to us at equity@nsbs.org.On behalf of the Gender Equity Committee,Heidi Schedler and Candee McCarthyCo-ChairsVictims of the massacre at École Polytechnique:Geneviève Bergeron (born 1968), civil engineering studentHélène Colgan (born 1966), mechanical engineering studentNathalie Croteau (born 1966), mechanical engineering studentBarbara Daigneault (born 1967), mechanical engineering studentAnne-Marie Edward (born 1968), chemical engineering studentMaud Haviernick (born 1960), materials engineering studentMaryse Laganière (born 1964), budget clerk in the ÉcolePolytechnique's finance departmentMaryse Leclair (born 1966), materials engineering studentAnne-Marie Lemay (born 1967), mechanical engineering studentSonia Pelletier (born 1961), mechanical engineering studentMichèle Richard (born 1968), materials engineering studentAnnie St-Arneault (born 1966), mechanical engineering studentAnnie Turcotte (born 1969), materials engineering studentBarbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (born 1958), nursing studentFor further information:National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women | Status of Women CanadaInForum is an electronic newsletter published approximately twice a month. To receive a free subscription, please contact the Society at info@nsbs.org.27 < Back to “What’s New”