December 6 Marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

BCNU joins all members in honouring the lives of 14 women killed in an act of gender-based violence on Dec. 6, 1989, when a gunman opened fire at École Polytechnique in Montreal, ending the lives of 12 engineering students, one nursing student, and one employee of the university. Fourteen others were injured.

This act of violence shook our country and led Parliament to designate Dec. 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women – a day to remember those who have experienced gender-based violence and those we have lost to it.

BCNU reaffirms its commitment to fight the hatred that led to this tragedy and the ongoing misogyny that continues to run rampant today. In Canada and around the world, women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, plus) and gender diverse individuals face unacceptable levels of violence and discrimination.

Adolescent women and women between the ages of 15 and 24 experience the highest rates of violence and Indigenous women are three times more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous women. 

The health sector has a role to play in reducing the impact of gender-based violence, not only by treating physical and psychological injuries, but also by protecting women in health facilities and referring them to other support services they need to access.

Gender-based violence and harassment often occur in the workplace or have workplace impacts when they happen outside the workplace. BCNU continues to advocate for robust violence prevention programs that include strategies to address how domestic and intimate partner violence spills over to the workplace, and to build a culture of workplace safety. Additionally, BCNU is committed to supporting members and connecting them to WorkSafeBC's occupational health and safety resources. 

Dec. 6 falls within the United Nation’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign that began on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs through International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

Add your voice to the conversation and share ways you can be part of the solution to end gender-based violence using the hashtags #16Days and #NDRAVAW in your online postings about this commemoration.

For more information about occupational health and safety, including violence prevention in the workplace, check out BCNU’s Steward Resource Toolkit and OHS Outreach webpage.