2015-2016

News Release

REF NO.: 39

SUBJECT: Memorial University to hold Dec. 6 vigil

DATE: December 2, 2015

Each year Memorial University holds a vigil to commemorate the 14 women who were killed because of their gender at l’École Polytechnique in Montreal, Que., on Dec. 6, 1989.

The anniversary of this tragedy coincides with the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada.

This year the vigil will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Engineering building’s main lecture theatre (EN-2006) with a reception to follow.

The event will include a candlelight procession of 14 Memorial University students who will each represent the lives of the women who were lost. The Pachelbel Trio will perform and dedications will be offered by university groups and community organizations. 

Dr. Noreen Golfman, provost and vice-president (academic), will emcee the event. Dr. Golfman was installed as Memorial’s first female pro-vice chancellor during spring 2015 convocation. Dr. Greg Naterer, dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, will offer welcoming remarks again this year. Guest speaker Jenny Wright, executive director, St. John’s Status of Women Council, will give the keynote address and Renee O’Brien, School of Graduate Studies, French and Spanish, will honour the memory of the women who died that day in 1989 by reading their names aloud.

The Sexual Harassment Office and the Department of Gender Studies invite members of the Memorial University community as well as the community at large to join in honouring these women and reflect upon concrete actions that each of us can take as a shared responsibility to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence.

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