The Queen’s community will mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on Monday, Dec. 6 with a ceremony, hosted by the Engineering Society, at the Integrated Learning Centre in Beamish-Munro Hall from 1-2 p.m.

The event will also be livestreamed for those not on campus.

Each year on Dec. 6, Canadians pause to reflect on the murder of 14 women that occurred at l’École Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989. It is a day to remember the victims and think about the effects that gender-based violence has had – and continues to have – on our society.

Most of the women killed that day were engineering students and were specifically targeted because they were women.

“We need to remember the terrible events of December 6. It is especially important for the engineering community to reflect on that loss, and to strengthen our resolve to welcome more women into the profession,” says Kevin Deluzio, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. “As a society we still have much work to do in the areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion, so this is a meaningful day for everyone at Queen’s. I encourage people from across the university to join us in reflecting on this day’s significance.”

As part of the ceremony, 14 current Queen’s Engineering students will speak about the 14 women who were killed and express their views on why it is important to remember them.