Polytechnique massacre 26th anniversary memorialized in Montreal

Ceremonies took place today to commemorate the26thanniversary of thecolePolytechniquemassacre in Montreal.

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On Dec. 6, 1989, 14 women were killed at the engineering schoolby a gunman professing to hate feminists and women's placein society.Another 14 people were injured before the gunmantook his own life.

Two rallies in Montreal honoured the memory of the 14 women killed.

The first rally began at11:45 a.m. ET at Place-du-6-dcembre, a memorial park close tocolePolytechnique.

People gathered to remember the victims and highlight ongoing issues ofgender inequality and violence against women.

A second gathering started at 5 p.m. onMontreal's Mount Royal.Fourteen beams of light were projected onto thenight sky over the city, representing each of the victims. Attendants observed a minute of silence and the names of the victims were read.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauattended, and had only a few words to say to the cameras.

"It's a moment to remember and to make promises, and that's what I'm doing," Trudeau said in French.

"What promises, Mr. Trudeau?" inquired a young girl.

"The promise to never forget and to do everything possible to ensure that never again."

Montreal's Olympic Stadium is one of many monuments countrywide that were being illuminated in red to honour the victims.