Courage & Hope
commemorative sculpture by Valerie LeBlanc

In 1998, the December 6th Committee commissioned Artist Valerie LeBlanc to complete the commemorative sculpture Courage & Hope. The sculpture was designed to commemorate the loss of the fourteen young women killed in an act of violence against women at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, 1989; and to give a sense of inspiration and hope for the future efforts and achievements of girls and women. The sculpture consists of a golden ladder set against a glass wall. At the base of the ladder are the names of the fourteen women who died. Carved on the glass are dreams and aspirations of girls and women. The 'future wishes' were gathered from schools, colleges, the Universite de Moncton, Womens' Centres in the Metro Moncton area.

detail
base : 48" dia. X6". Ladder : 72" H.
Glass 63" X 24" X 3/4"
Materials : Glass, aluminum and brass.
detail
“The golden ladder has seven rungs to pass over the events of December 6th. The base has fourteen facets bearing the names of the fourteen young women The concept of Courage and Hope is to raise above what happened and built something that will take us further” – Valerie LeBlanc
Click here for:
Hope springs from tragedy
by Frank Carrol

Time & Transcript staff
Upon the glass wall are phrases gathered from female high school students in the Metro Moncton area, expressing their dreams and aspirations for the future. "To be appreciated as a woman and respected as a engineer" wrote one girl named Josee".
Courage & Hope is on permanent display inside the entrance to Moncton City Hall.
655 Main Moncton NB E1C 1E8
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