Violence Against Women

On December 6^th each year, the Minister for the Status of Women Hon. Nancy Allan, sponsors a Sunrise Ceremony to remember the 14 young university students who were killed by a lone gunman because they were women.

What is now referred to as the Montreal Massacre, occurred on December 6, 1989. The day began as any other day and the women happily attended their classes, looking forward to be Canada's future engineers and scientists. Unbeknownst to them that that day, December 6 would be the last for many of their friends and colleagues and even themselves. Marc Lepine, a 25 year old student of Ecole Polytechnique, armed with a legally obtained semi-automatic rifle and a hunting knife, in cold blood shot 28 women, killing 14 and injuring the other 14, before cowardly turning the gun on himself.

Lepine declared he was fighting feminism as he went through the corridors, to the cafeteria and into the classroom, separating the men and women and proceeded to shoot the women. All of this happened in less than 20 minutes - I should mention there were 4 men injured in the fray.

It was a day that sent chills down women's spines everywhere. It was a day that women will remember and will remember clearly where they were and what they were doing. It was a day when misogyny reared its ugliest head.

December 6, is also the day Manitoba's women remember all the women who died at the hands of the men they loved within the battleground of their homes. Yes, family violence takes the lives of more women than any other criminal act. The home can be the most unsafe place for women.

December 6^th is also the day Manitoba women remember all their Aboriginal sisters who have gone missing most through trafficking and male violence against them and for whom until recently there was not outcry by the general population. It was as if Aboriginal women's lives did not matter as much. Thanks to the Aboriginal women who are growing in strength and whose strong advocacy have brought the plight of Aboriginal women to the forefront. Many of the missing women are mothers, daughters, sisters who were loved and are missed.

On December 6^th we remember all the women who have died and recommit ourselves to end violence against women.

Women who live in abusive relationships are especially vulnerable at this time of the year when the pressures of the holiday season can inflame the anger in men who cannot cope with the stress of financial burdens of the season. It is incumbent on us to be our sisters' keepers. Keep and eye out for the woman next to you and make the call the police if you have to.

May this holiday season be a time of peace in the home front, joy and goodwill.