Canadians commemorated the 28th anniversary Wednesday of the Montreal Massacre when a gunman shot 14 women to death and injured 14 other people.
Dignitaries, citizens and families of victims took part in two official events to mark events today to mark the tragedy that took place Dec.6, 1989 at École Polytechnique.
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Representatives from the school laid bouquets of red, white and pink roses in front of a commemorative plaque outside the school in a brief outdoor ceremony Wednesday morning.
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The head of the school’s board of directors says the white rose has become a symbol of the victims in the years following the tragedy.
A ceremony for the 14 victims was held at 5 p.m. at the lookout atop Mount Royal Park. Deputy premier Dominique Anglade, Mayor Valerie Plante and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were in attendance.
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Fourteen light beams were installed at the lookout to represent the 14 women. The light shone out into the night sky between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Heidi Rathjen, a former École Polytechnique student and witness to the massacre, said it is still important to remember what happened 28 years ago.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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