Times & Transcript Staff
December 6, 1989 was a day of terror and despair for Canadian woman. But
an organization in Metrto Moncton has turned the anniversary of the Montreal
Massacre into a day of courage and hope.
Yesterday, the December 6 Committee unveiled a monument called Courage and
Hope to pay hommage to the victims of the Montreal Massacre.
Nine years ago on Sunday, a gunman walked into l"Ecole polytechnique
with a gun and killed 14 female engineering students.
Since then Dec. 6 has become a rallying day for those who deplore violence
against woman. Last year, the December 6 Committee in Metro Moncton commissioned
visual artist Valerie LeBlanc to create a monument in time for this year's
commemoration. Courage and Hope consist of a golden ladder set against a glass
wall. At the base of the ladder are the names of the 14 woman who died in
the massacre.
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 an engineer" wrote
one girl named Josee.
"I want to be an RCMP officer and a loving mother". wrote Laura.
The Montreal gunman snuffed out the dreams and aspirations of 14 people in
1989 because he had a personal vendetta against woman.
In large part, yesterday's commemoration was a commitment by Metro Moncton
woman to move beyond the tragedy and stay commited to their own aspirations,
to fulfill what the victims of the Montreal Massacre were unable to fulfill.
That is why the golden ladder on the monument has seven rungs and not six,
as in Dec. 6.
"To put that in context, we have to rise above what happened and build
something that will take us further," said LeBlanc.
The foyer at city hall was jammedpacked for yesterday's unveilling ceremony.
One of those present was Melanie Robichaud, a 16-year-old student from Ecole
Polyvalante Mathieu-Martin, who gave the keynote address during the ceremony.
But most of her speech was devoted to pointing out the inequalities that exist between men and women in the workplace. For her, the monument was a reminder that women have to keep pursuing their dreams no matter what stands in their way.
"The ladder symbolizes that we have to keep striving for our goals and never settle for the minimum," said Robichaud.
Nancy Hartling, chairwoman of the December 6 Committee, said the committee put a lot of work into making the Courage and Hope project a reality. She said the monument at city hall will remain there as a permanent reminder of the problem of violence against women - not only in distant places but in Moncton as well.
The unveilling of the Courage and Hope monument was followed by a ceremony in which local high school students placed roses in honour of each of the 14 victims of the Montreal Massacre.
To emphasize that violence hits close to home, a 15th rose was placed in remembrance of 10 women who died vioently in the Metro Moncton in the past decade. Their names were, Norma, Jessica, Joan, Nina, Marcia, Melissa, Monique, Laura Ann, Michele and Clair.
The December 6 Committee will officially commemorate the Montreal Massacre at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Caseley Park in Riverview.
The fourteen
engineering students who were shot to death at L'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal
on Dec. 6, 1989 included:
- Genevieve Bergeron, 21.
- Helene Colgan,
23.
- Nathalie Croteau, 23.
- Barbara Daigneault, 22.
- Anne-Marie Edward, 21.
- Maud Haviernick, 29.
- Barbara Maria Klueznick, 31.
- Maryse LeClair, 23.
- Annie St-Arneault, 23.
- Annie Turcotte, 21.
- Anne-Marie Lemay, 27.
- Michelle Richard, 21.
- Maryse Laganiere, 25.
- Sonia Pelletier, 28.
