CUASA Statement on National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
December 6, 2023
Today, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, marks the 34 years since the deadly massacre that claimed the lives of 14 women murdered at Polytechnique Montréal on December 6, 1989. On this day, we honour and remember the lives lost, and we reflect on the need to end gender-based violence in all forms.
As the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) writes, “In June 2023, we saw again just how urgent that mission is on our campuses. A person explicitly targeted a gender studies class on the campus of the University of Waterloo for a violent attack, wounding two students and a professor. The attack was shocking and deeply traumatizing for the victims, their families, their colleagues, and the entire Waterloo community. It resonated with so many across campuses and communities in Canada and beyond as well. Importantly, the incident was a sad reminder of the ongoing necessity to address misogyny, transphobia, and sexuality and gender-based violence in our campus communities.
Three decades after the École Polytechnique massacre, more must be done to redress gender-based violence on campus and the increasing threats and harassment experienced by faculty, academic librarians, staff, and students who are marginalized, and who work in the areas of, but not limited to, gender, sexuality, race and racism, Indigenous, and Black studies.”
Following the June 2023 attack at the University of Waterloo, CUASA and CUPE 4600 wrote to the Carleton administration respectfully demanding that Carleton take action and implement safeguards to protect the university community. As a result, the University promised to take concrete actions to address some of the safety concerns raised, including new protocols that the classrooms where courses are being held are no longer posted publicly. On this day, and always, CUASA commits to continuing fighting hatred, misogyny, and violence.
We also join with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in calling for the federal government to implement the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace.
In Remembrance Of:
- Geneviève Bergeron (born 1968), civil engineering student
- Hélène Colgan (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
- Nathalie Croteau (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
- Barbara Daigneault (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
- Anne-Marie Edward (born 1968), chemical engineering student
- Maud Haviernick (born 1960), materials engineering student
- Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (born 1958), nursing student
- Maryse Laganière (born 1964), budget clerk in the École Polytechnique’s finance department
- Maryse Leclair (born 1966), materials engineering student
- Anne-Marie Lemay (born 1967), mechanical engineering student
- Sonia Pelletier (born 1961), mechanical engineering student
- Michèle Richard (born 1968), materials engineering student
- Annie St-Arneault (born 1966), mechanical engineering student
- Annie Turcotte (born 1969), materials engineering student
