Web Posted December 7

Anniversary of Montreal Slaughter Marked by Two Events

Part of the audience at the December 4 event

Union members committed to ending violence against women attended two labour sponsored events to mourn the December 6, 1989 slaughter of 14 women at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique. The first event (above) was held Friday, December 4 at the Union Centre - the second on Sunday, December 6 outside of Conservative MP Shelly Glover's constituency office.


MFL President Kevin Rebeck and Minister Jennifer Howard (centre) are seen here at the December 4 event with MFL Executive Director, Sylvia Farley.

Friday's event was addressed by Jennifer Howard, Manitoba Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and Kevin Rebeck, MFL President.

Minister Howard said the anniversary is a sad one for all women across the country. In her case, she learned of the massacre while studying for exams at Brandon University.

"The shocking feelings that swept over me and many of my friends changed us for the rest of our lives. It crystallized my feelings about the dangers that face women, simply because they are women, and committed me to feminism."

MFL President Kevin Rebeck called on the audience to join him and other union members at a Sunday Candle Light vigil outside of Conservative MP Shelly Glover's constituency office to protest the Harper Conservatives' plan to dismantle the long-gun registry against the advice of law enforcement agencies and women across Canada.

"The long-gun registry, and the work that it supports, has reduced gun-related spousal homicides by 50 per cent since it was started in 1995," Rebeck said.


Monique Edwards looks at the display set up at the December 4 event by the Mount Carmel Clinic.

"And yet, the Harper Conservatives are determined to push Bill C-391 through parliament to end the long-gun registry. Satisfying those who demand to arm themselves out of the public eye is more important than protecting women from the gun fire.

"Women and their supporters must demand that Shelly Glover stops supporting the Prime Minister and the rest of that bunch on Bill C-391 and to start supporting her sisters by protecting the long-gun registry."