Twenty-one years ago, Dec. 6 was a school day like any other in Montreal's École Polytechnique.
But in just 20 minutes, Marc Lépine, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a personal vendetta against women, made it a day no one will forget.
Claiming he was fighting feminism, he walked into a classroom, separating the men from the women, and shot all the women. He then walked through the engineering school, aiming his rifle at any women in his path. By the time he aimed the gun at himself, he had killed 14 women and injured several others.
Two years later, in 1991, the Parliament of Canada established Dec. 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
This day is a chance for everyone to remember the women who have been victims of violence, but also to work together to put an end to gender-based violence.
This year, a memorial service was held at Connaught Elementary School to promote awareness and, hopefully, an end to violence against women.
The service was organized by Battlefords Tribal Council Indian Health Services and Battlefords Victim Services, and representatives from Catholic Family Service and Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Clinic were also present.
Candles were lit in remembrance of women who were, and are, victims of violence.
BTCIHS youth addictions counsellors Jessica Atcheynum and Lenore Kiskotagan presented a play titled, An Aboriginal Youth's Cry for Help.
Students from Moosomin School participated in the interactive play, which centered on a young girl, Meghan, and her boyfriend, Dave.
Atcheynum read scenarios in which Dave becomes more aggressive, violent and abusive towards Meghan, while each student took turns reading the reactions of various people in the Meghan's life.
As each person, including Meghan's friends, parents and school counsellor, brush off Meghan's concerns or fail to notice warning signs of abuse, a towel is placed over Meghan's head as she loses her former self and becomes invisible.
When the violence escalates to the point where Dave rapes Meghan, Atcheynum went back to the beginning, and this time students read the appropriate actions people should have taken when witnessing or hearing of Dave's behaviour.
With each positive action, the towels were removed, eventually revealing Meghan, portrayed by Kiskotagan.
Kiskotagan said raising awareness is important, especially in Grade 7 to 8, which were the grades present at the service.
"They're starting to be in dating relationships and they see abuse," said Kiskotagan, adding, "It's common in First Nations."
According to the government of Canada website, Status of Women Canada, the spousal homicide rate among Aboriginal women is more than eight times that of non-Aboriginal women.
Social Services Minister June Draude, who is the minister responsible for the status of women, said the government is concerned whenever a person is the victim of violence.
"It's disappointing to see how much violence there still is against women," said Draude.
"Our goal is that all our women and all our children can go to bed at night feeling safe and secure."
Draude said the Saskatchewan government has increased funding to transition homes and sexual assault agencies by 25 per cent, as well as expanding programs for children who have been witnesses to or victims of domestic violence.
She also pointed out the difference campaigns, such as the YWCA's Rose Button Campaign (rosecampaign.ca) and the White Ribbon Campaign (whiteribbon.ca), can make in raising awareness.
Between Nov. 25 and Dec. 6, Draude, along with other MLAs, could be seen sporting both a white ribbon and a rose button.
"I'd like to urge everyone to work together in calling for an end to violence against women," said Draude.
In the Battlefords, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was wrapped up with a candlelight walk held outside the North Battleford Public Library.
