On Friday, Dec. 1, the Lassonde School of Engineering hosted a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women ceremony to commemorate the lives of the 14 female victims of the Dec 6, 1989 massacre at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.
York University President and Vice Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton shared the University’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity both on and off-campus. To read her remarks, click here.
Interim Dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering Richard Hornsey was unable to attend the ceremony, but shared his support and commitment towards ending gendered violence. Click here to see the video.
Special guest Kate Allen, Science and Technology journalist at the Toronto Star, was invited to speak to the York University community at the ceremony about the history of the National Day of Remembrance, and Canada’s current state of affairs on gender equity in science and technology. Allen's speech can be found here.
The national campaign associated with the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is #MYActionsMatter. The Government of Canada is encouraging everyone to take action and commit to end gender-based violence, now and throughout the year. The Lassonde Media Group partnered with York University students to create a moving video to encourage students, faculty and staff at York University to take action.
To conclude the ceremony, Marisa Sterling, assistant dean of inclusivity and diversity at the Lassonde School of Engineering, shared a special announcement for York University students. The engineering school has developed a new project that takes actions to end violence and aggressions toward women and marginalized people. It is called the #MYActionsMatter Project. The project will address two challenges: What is micro-aggressive behaviour and what can you do to stop it? And, how can all people be allies to marginalized, racialized and underrepresented people including women in STEM?
Students will be given a chance to sign-up to design and facilitate a workshop on each challenge in a way to build knowledge on the topics.
More details can be found here.
The University community remembers the young women who lost their lives on Dec. 6, 1989. They are:
- Geneviève Bergeron
- Hélène Colgan
- Nathalie Croteau
- Barbara Daigneault
- Anne-Marie Edward
- Maud Haviernick
- Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz
- Maryse Laganière
- Maryse Leclair
- Anne-Marie Lemay
- Sonia Pelletier
- Michèle Richard
- Annie St-Arneault
- Annie Turcotte