A tragic event that the engineering community never forgets

December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a day that was created out of a tragedy that devastated a nation. On December 6, 1989, 14 women were killed by a gunman at École Polytechnique in Montreal. On this day, the engineering community gathers to honour those 14 women who lost their lives due to misogyny and hate and reflect on where we are today and what we want our future to look like.

Student, Simran Gill made closing remarks at the 2024 memorial event. She is the 10th woman out of 117 Senior Sticks for the University of Manitoba Engineering Society (UMES) and the first woman of colour to hold this leadership position in the faculty. She spoke on the very real barriers that women still face in the field of engineering while also being grateful for the Faculty's leadership that values diversity and inclusion. Dean Marcia Friesen is the first female dean in the Price Faculty of Engineering and she serves as a valuable role model for students, including Simran.

We cannot take the work done by people before us for granted. We must continue to take steps forward to continue to create a more equitable and just world, so that the events of Dec. 6 will never happen again.

Dawson Switzer, UMES Senior Stick (2022)

We hope that everyone takes a moment to commit themselves to even just one simple action to combat misogyny and hate. Every small action will contribute to the future we want to create as a community.

On Dec. 6 we wear white ribbons over our hearts, light candles to remember our lost sisters, and look towards the future with hope as we recommit ourselves to take action against violence.