B.C. gov’t holds vigil ahead of day honouring gender-based violence victims

Special events are taking place Thursday ahead of this weekend’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

Dec. 6 is remembered as the day in 1989 when an armed man entered École Polytechnique in Montreal and shot and killed 14 women.

As the date falls on a Saturday this year, some public institutions will hold events in advance.

The B.C. government will hold a candlelight vigil, hosted by Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity Jennifer Blatherwick, outside the B.C. Legislature in the early afternoon.

Another gathering is planned for Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus. The university will hold a memorial and vigil at noon in the E Building Atrium.

On Friday, SFU will host two events on its Burnaby campus. From 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Memorial Bench, outside of the Faculty of Applied Sciences Building, and from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. at the SUB Ballroom.

The government of Canada says the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women is about “remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who we have lost to it.”

On Dec. 6, Canadians are invited to wear a white ribbon in honour of the victims.

“The White Ribbon Campaign is a global movement of men and boys in more than 60 countries working to end male violence against women and girls. It began in Toronto in 1991 in response to the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre,” the federal government explained.

The vigil in Victoria is expected to begin at 12:30 p.m. A livestream is available for those who cannot attend in person.