A Walk to Remember: Honouring December 6 Together

Each December 6, North Shore Crisis Services Society (NSCSS) joins Canadians in solemnly observing the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This date marks the heartbreaking anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where 14 women were killed in a mass shooting as an act of gender-based violence. For many, this is not just a day of reflection but a deeply personal moment of grief and remembrance.

We hold this day close to our hearts, honouring those lives lost while standing with their loved ones and everyone impacted by gender-based violence.

Next year, consider joining us at A Walk to Remember—an annual gathering in North Vancouver that brings our community together in solidarity, organized by the North Shore Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR) Committee. This event honours the women taken too soon and reminds us of our shared responsibility to build a safer, more equitable world.

Whether you are attending the walk or marking this day quietly, please know that you are not alone. Together, as a community, we remember.

Education As a Path Forward

We believe education is essential to creating change. To support this effort, the VAWIR Committee has developed learning guides, available in English and Farsi, offering tools to deepen understanding of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (NIMMIWG), gender-based violence, and ways to support survivors.

These guides are here to empower you—whether you’re a concerned citizen, an ally, or someone searching for ways to make a difference.

Taking Steps Together

December 6 is a day that weighs heavily on so many hearts, but it also shines a light on the strength we have when we come together. By joining A Walk to Remember, reading the educational guides, or simply taking a moment of reflection, we honour those we’ve lost and reaffirm our shared commitment to change.

From all of us at NSCSS, thank you for standing with us. For those whose lives have been touched by this day, we walk alongside you—with compassion, determination, and hope for a safer future.