Community members gathered in Belleville on Tuesday afternoon to commemorate the 14 victims of the École Polytechnique shooting and all women lost to femicide.

On Dec. 6, 1989, a man motivated by a hatred of feminists shot and killed 14 female students and injured 13 other people at the Montreal engineering school.  A small vigil was held at The Core Centre at 223 Pinnacle Street to remember the victims of the mass femicide in Montreal and honour the 52 women who lost their lives to gender-based violence in Ontario last year.

"It's important that we continue to have this day and recognize the 14 women who lost their lives," said Amy Dufresne, acting executive director with Three Oaks Foundation.   "It's important that we remember the women who lose their lives throughout the course of the year."

The names of the 14 women were read aloud as red roses were placed in a vase in front of 14 glowing candles to honour them.  The women killed in the anti-feminist attack were 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, Michele Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte.  The anniversary of the mass shooting was proclaimed National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in 1991.  

A video also played a tribute honouring each of the 52 Ontario women killed last year.  The women ranging in age from 8 to 88 years of age were more than just statistics, said Jocelyn Pitcher with the Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District.

"To those who knew and loved them they were sisters, friends, mothers, daughters, aunts, colleagues and lovers," she said.  "They were loved ones who were taken from this world far too soon."

 Victims come from all walks of life, Pitcher stated.  These victims were professionals, students, homemakers, business owners, athletes, activities and impactful members of their communities, she described.

The rise in the number of women who were murdered last year, was a huge point of concern for Pitcher.

During 2020 - 2021, 58 women were killed as a result of gender-based violence, up from 37 women the year before.

"Violence against women has been considered a shadow pandemic," she stated.

"Gender-based violence affects all types of women and most women have feared for their safety at some point in their life.  Indigenous, black and racialized women are over represented.  With the impacts of colonization and racial and systemic violence leading to greater impacts of gender based violence."

Most recently, Pitcher said there were four Indigenous women believed to have been murdered by an alleged serial killer in Manitoba.  LGBTQIA+ people are also facing disproportionate harm, she offered.

"So let's make this day not just as day of remembrance and mourning but a call to action - a reminder of why violence against women and other forms of reopression contiuiously require attention and change," Pitcher urged.  "Let's get out there and make our voices heard. Sign petitions, write letters or emails and make phone calls.  Attend educational events...speak up when a friend makes a misogynistic joke...If you know a woman who may be at risk share her concern and the different ways they can get help."

Pitcher encouraged those in attendance to call on governments to implement the recommendations in the 231 calls to justice in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls final report along with the Renfrew County Inquest.  

The inquest into the 2015 murders of three women - Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in Renfrew County was released in June and focused is on intimate partner violence in a rural context.

Since their deaths, 273 women have been killed in Ontario, Pitcher said.  There is a growing link between intimate partner violence and mass shootings, Pitcher read from the report.

"There needs to be a political will applied to gender-based and domestic violence in Canada," she said.  "The report says that children should be taught in schools about gender-based violence.  How to manage powerful emotions and how to build healthy relationships.  They urge that men who perpetrate violence need more support and services too."

'This is not something that is going away anytime soon, which is unfortunate,' added Dufresne.

"We need more people to rally behind agencies such as ours, the sexual asault centre, victim services to have a more impactful voice in the community so that it's not just the same people over and over again," she said.  "We need more allies in the fight to end gender-based violence."

Three Oaks helps on average 130 to 150 women and children in the Quinte Region a year fleeing domestic violence.  Both Dufresne and Pitcher encouraged anyone experiencing domestic violence to reach out for support.

"If you do know anyone who is experiencing any form of violence - know your resources, provide them with the resources and try to do so in the most non-judgmental way possible," Dufresne said.   "That's the biggest piece there is enough stigma attached to all of that - the people that they trust to bring those things forward to are the people who need to be the most supportive and the most non-judgemental."

If you or someone you know is in crisis here are some available supports:
• The Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District: 613-967-6300
• Their 24/7 crisis line can be reached at: 1-877-544-6424
• Three Oaks Shelter in Belleville: 613-966-3074
• Red Cedars Shelter in Tyendinaga: 1-800-672-9515
• Alternatives for Women in Picton: 613-476-2787
• Maggie’s Resource Centre in Bancroft: 613-332-3010
• Victim Services HPELA: 613-771-1767
• Assaulted Women's Helpline: 1-888-200-9997
• Talk4Healing 24/7 helpline for Indigenous women: 1-855-554-HEAL (4325)
• LGBT Youthline: 1-800-268-9688
• Trans Lifeline: 877-330-6366