Today marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which marks the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

On December 6, 1989, a gunman entered Montreal’s École Polytechnique, killing 14 young women, most of them engineering students. The shocking crime saw the gunman seek out female students and led to the creation of the day in Canada.

To mark the anniversary, Women in Science and Engineering NL held their own vigil today at Memorial University, honouring those killed.

Past presidents of WISE NL, Carolyn Emerson and Gloria Montano, recall that day 34 years ago.

Her voice faltering and her eyes filling up with tears, Emerson says she was working at the University when the news broke. She says it was “staggering” and the country was in deep shock and mourning.

Montano says the conversation around violence against women needs to be informed by reflecting on the past. She suggests the administration could provide class time and make the information on the event more readily available.

“Only through knowing better can we be better.”