Islanders pay tribute to Polytechnique victims, oppose gender-based violence

People from across P.E.I. gathered toremember and honourthe14 women killed in Montreal'scole Polytechniquein 1989.

Wednesday also marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

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The service was held at the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown, wherecandles were lit to honour the 14victims:

• Genevive Bergeron, civil engineering student.
• Hlne Colgan, mechanical engineering student.
• Nathalie Croteau, mechanical engineering student.
• Barbara Daigneault, mechanical engineering student.
• Anne-Marie Edward, chemical engineering student.
• Maud Haviernick, materials engineering student.
• Maryse Laganire, budget clerk.
• Maryse Leclair, materials engineering student.
• Anne-Marie Lemay, mechanical engineering student.
• Sonia Pelletier, mechanical engineering student.
• Michle Richard, materials engineering student.
• Annie St-Arneault, mechanical engineering student.
• Annie Turcotte, materials engineering student.
• Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, nursing student.

The ceremony also remembered the 10 women who have been murdered on P.E.I. since 1989 andrecognized missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

Michelle Jay, purple ribbon campaign coordinator for the P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women, told CBCNews: Compassthat the day is importantand should be observed as a day of action against gender-based violence.

"It's very important to us and it's very important to all Canadians to remember that day," she said.

"Were not going to forget. We need to mourn but we also need to use the day to act for change."

She said in the 28 years since the killings in Montreal, Canada has certainly made progress in reducing gender-based violence, but there's still a long way to go.

"There is a comfort and a strength in being together, but also that we're saying that we're not going to forget and we will continue to recommit ourselves to end violence against women," she said.

Jayalso brought attention to the positive rolemenhave taken inaddressingmale violence as well as the many Indigenous women across Canada that have foughtfor decadesformissing and murdered women.

"That together with movements like #MeToo is really having an impact and making it very clear that this is not just a women's issue, or pockets of society, it's all of our concern, it's all of our issue, to make our community safer for everyone."

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