A candlelight vigil was held outside the Halifax Public Library last night to mark the 20-year
anniversary of the worst mass shooting in Canadian history.

About 100 people braved the snow and cold to remember the women killed on Dec. 6, 1989 by shooter Marc Lépine at Montreal’s École Polytechnique.

At one point Lépine entered a classroom, separated the men from the women and opened fire. He then walked through the school shooting at women before turning the gun on himself. In all, 14 women were killed and 13 wounded.

The event, known as the Montreal Massacre, became a focal point for the debate of gun control and violence against women in Canada.

Susanne Litke, a Dalhousie Legal Aid lawyer and one of the organizers of last night’s vigil, said she still remembers how deeply the news of the massacre affected her as a new mother, with a young son of six.

“My raison d’être as a mother has been to raise a son who is going to stand up against violence against women,” she said. “(Dec. 6) is still significant because the work is not over … we just need to keep working on this.”

After the vigil, many of the supporters made their way down Spring Garden to St. Matthew’s United Church Hall for a potluck and entertainment including spoken word artists, music, and dance.

Emily Krehm, who works with Oxfam Canada, said she thinks it’s important to continue to reflect on the events on Dec. 6, and to raise awareness about the many forms of abuse women continue to face.

“Violence against women hasn’t decreased in 20 years — the stats are still the exact same,” she said.

“Clearly there’s a need to bring awareness to this issue that’s often marginalized in the media, often marginalized in the government for funding.”