Perspectives: Honouring the women of École Polytechnique – Why Dec. 6 still matters today

On Dec. 6, 1989, 14 women were fatally shot at École Polytechnique in Montreal in one of the most devastating acts of gender-based violence¹ in Canadian history. The actions of the 25-year-old man that entered the university campus that day were deliberate and explicit: he targeted the students because they were women, motivated by hatred toward those he believed were encroaching on traditionally male domains, particularly STEM fields. More than three decades later, the ongoing problem with misogyny, systemic discrimination, and violence against women continues in Canada and across the globe.

The events of Dec. 6, 1989

The attack was precise and explicit in its intent. The gunman entered a mechanical engineering classroom, separated male and female students, and opened fire on the women before moving on to other parts of the campus. During the massacre he declared that women were taking men's jobs and that “…you're all a bunch of feminists, and I hate feminists!”, these statements highlighted his misogynistic ideology which drove his actions.²  Of the 14 women who died that day, 12 were engineering students pursuing careers in a male-dominated field, one was a nursing student, and one was an employee. Thirteen people were injured. The victims were targeted not for anything they had done, but simply for being women who dared to claim space in engineering.

The names of the fourteen women deserve to be remembered: Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, and Annie Turcotte. They were daughters, sisters, friends, and students with aspirations that were violently cut short.³  

National impact and the awakening to gender-based violence

In Canada, the massacre shattered any illusion that gender-based hatred was a distant or abstract problem. Thus, Canadians were forced to confront a disturbing reality: violent misogyny existed within our society, and it had claimed the lives of 14 promising young women.

The tragedy catalyzed urgent national conversations. Debates emerged around gun control, resulting in stricter firearms legislation. For example, the government moved toward establishing stricter gun control with Bill-C 17 and Firearms Act, 1995 (Bill C-68).⁴  Questions arose about campus safety and the responsibility of institutions to protect women in traditionally male fields. Most significantly, it amplified discussions about male violence against women, not as isolated incidents, but as manifestations of broader systemic inequalities in Canadian society.

Women's organizations, such as the Canadian Women’s Foundation, intensified their advocacy efforts. The crisis became a rallying point for Canadians demanding recognition of gender-based violence as a serious social issue requiring legislative, institutional, and cultural responses. Dec. 6 became the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, ensuring that the lessons of the tragedy would not be forgotten.

Why Dec. 6 remains relevant today

More than 30 years later, what happened on Dec. 6, 1989, continues to resonate in Canada because the issues it exposed remain unresolved. Gender-based violence persists, particularly against marginalized women in society such as women of colour and Indigenous women. In a recent report by Women and Gender Equality Canada (2025), 46% of Indigenous women and 30% of non-Indigenous women experienced sexual assault in their lifetime, and 61% of Indigenous, 57% of women living in poverty, and 30% of non-Indigenous women have experienced acts of violence against them by their intimate partner.5 Between 2011 and 2021, 1,125 women have been victims of femicide, gender-related homicide, in Canada.

In terms of education and employment, women in STEM fields still face systemic barriers, discrimination, and hostility.⁶  The cultural attitudes that fueled the gunman's rage, and his resentment toward women's advancement, entitlement to male-dominated spaces, and the devaluation of women's lives, have not been eradicated.

The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of several enduring challenges:

• The persistence of misogyny in professional spaces, where women in engineering, technology, and other male-dominated fields continue to navigate environments where their competence is questioned, their presence resented, and their safety sometimes threatened.
• The connection between ideology and violence. The École Polytechnique massacre was not a random act, rather it was ideologically motivated violence rooted in beliefs about gender roles and male entitlement. This belief continues to circulate and, in some cases, inspire contemporary acts of violence.
• Institutional and collective social responsibility of preventing gender-based violence requires more than individual awareness. It demands systemic changes: education that challenges harmful stereotypes, policies that protect women, and cultures that refuse to tolerate misogyny in any form.

Annual commemorations of Dec. 6 are not merely symbolic gestures. They are acts of accountability, reminding us that progress achieved since 1989 is incomplete and that the work of building a truly equitable society remains ongoing.

Conclusion

Remembering the women of École Polytechnique means more than honouring their lives. It means acknowledging the systemic forces that made their deaths possible and committing to dismantling those forces. It also means recognizing that gender-based violence is not an anomaly but a reflection of deeper inequalities that shape women's lives daily.

Dec. 6 challenges Canadians to ask uncomfortable questions: What has changed since 1989? What has not? What more must be done to ensure that women can pursue their ambitions, occupy any space, and live their lives free from violence and discrimination?

The answers to these questions determine whether the memory of Geneviève, Hélène, Nathalie, Barbara, Anne-Marie, Maud, Barbara, Maryse, Maryse, Anne-Marie, Sonia, Michèle, Annie, and Annie will serve as a catalyst for lasting change or a tragedy repeated in different forms. By reflecting on Dec. 6, Canadians reaffirm their commitment to a society grounded in equality, safety, dignity, and respect for all women. So, wear a white ribbon on Dec. 6 in support of ending gender-based violence against women in Canada and globally.

Patty Zakaria, is an associate professor in the University of Niagara Falls Canada’s Master of Data Analytics program. She has over two decades of experience in international relations, research design, and policy analysis.

References

[1] Government of Canada – Facts, stats and WAGE’s impact: Gender-based violence

[2] Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability – The Montreal Massacre

[3] Government of Canada – The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

[4] Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies - Canada's New Gun Control Legislation: Stiffer Penalties and Controlled Access

[5] Government of Canada - Facts, stats and WAGE’s impact: Gender-based violence

[6] Government of Canada – Advancing Women in STEM in the Government of Canada