Nouvelles
Activities Commemorating December 6, 1989
Thirty years have passed since the anti-women attack that took the lives of 14 young women and injured 13 other individuals on December 6, 1989, at Polytechnique Montréal. To honour the memory of the victims of this tragedy, several commemorative activities have been organized.
Week of the White Rose
In support of the sixth edition of the Week of the White Rose, being held from December 2 to 6, 2019, Polytechnique is reaching out to its entire community as well as the general public, to ask you to purchase a virtual white rose.
All proceeds from rose sales go to Folie Technique, Polytechnique Montréal’s science camp. With the funds raised, Folie Technique is able to give girls from disadvantaged communities the opportunity to take part in science awareness activities.
Since its establishment, the Week of the White Rose has raised over $65,000 – a sum that translates into enabling close to 8,850 girls to attend in-class science workshops, or to participate in Folie Technique science summer camp. This non-profit organization can’t keep up with the demand, however. The “100% girls” groups are so popular, the organization struggles to fulfil the many registration requests. Give white roses.
Wearing a White Ribbon
In the spirit of solidarity, and to raise awareness of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (also December 6 each year), many individuals choose to wear a white ribbon on their clothing. The ribbon, when viewed upside down, becomes a letter V, an eloquent and powerful symbol that condemns all violence against women and girls.
If you would like to participate in this initiative, from November 29 to December 8, white ribbons will be made available by the Association étudiante de Polytechnique at the entrance of the Main building and the Lassonde building. White ribbons will be available on December 6 at the General Secretariat office located in B-210, as well as in the Association étudiante de Polytechnique office in C-215.
Order of the White Rose Scholarship
Thursday, December 5 at 11 am, Polytechnique will hold the fifth edition of the Order of the White Rose award ceremony. This $30,000 scolarship honours and encourages a Canadian female engineering student who intends to pursue graduate studies anywhere across the globe. Find out more.
Laying of Rose Wreaths on Polytechnique’s Commemorative Plaque
On Friday, December 6, at 8:15 am, a wreath of white roses will be placed on the commemorative plaque, placed by Polytechnique students and staff. All members of the Polytechnique community (students, staff, alumni) and the general public are invited to pass by the memorial for a moment of contemplation, at any point during the day. Find out more.
Book Launch « Ce jour-là – Parce qu’elles étaient des femmes »
On Friday December 6, 2019 at 9 am, at the Galerie Rolland (Main Building, B-600.16) will be held the « Ce jour-là – Parce qu’elles étaient des femmes » book launch. Written by former Le Devoir journalist Josée Boileau, and published by Éditions La Presse, this timely book is available in French immediately, and in English in early 2020. A work of both memory and analysis, the book contains archival photos, a factual description of the events that unfolded, a look at the lives of the 14 victims, eye-witness accounts of those who experienced the trauma themselves, an analysis of the 1980s as an historical period, and an examination of society at the time.
An initiative by the Comité Mémoire (made up of volunteers), and supported by Polytechnique Montréal.
Light Beam Ceremony on Mount Royal
To keep the memory of these young women in our hearts and minds, the Comité Mémoire, in collaboration with the City of Montreal, invites the general public to gather on Mount Royal at the Belévèdere Kondiaronk on Friday, December 6 at 5 pm.
At 5:10 pm, the exact time that the first shots were fired, 14 light beams will shine over the Montréal skyline (designed by Moment Factory). As the names of each of the 14 women who were killed is said aloud, a beam of light is lit in their honour. For the 30th anniversary, 14 engineering universities across Canada, from Vancouver to Halifax, will each shine a light beam in homage. After a minute of silence, a 150-person choir will sing two musical pieces to conclude the ceremony. Find out more.
To Learn More
December 6 website
