Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, to remember those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who have lost their lives to it.
The day was prompted by the tragedy 33 years ago at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal, when 14 women were murdered in a violent act of misogyny.
The women killed in 1989 were Genevieve Bergeron, Helene Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganiere, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michele Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte.
To mark the day, people are encouraged to wear a white ribbon, observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. and attend a vigil in your community.
The Huron Women’s Shelter is holding one at 11 a.m. in Courthouse Square in Goderich. There is also one at Coulter Parkette in Port Elgin at noon or Kincardine United Church’s 7 p.m. vigil tonight.