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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 7, 20 17 | 6 Twenty-eight years ago, one of Canada's worst mass shooting unfolded in Montreal, Quebec. An ordinary day for the hundreds of students study- ing STEM programs at the L'École Polytechnique be- came anything but ordinary. By the end of the day, 14 women were dead, shot to death by a semi-automatic rifle in the hands of a young man with a goal of eliminat- ing women from this earth. Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Cro- teau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne- Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, Barbara Klucznik-Wida- jewicz ... These are the names of the 14 women who lost their lives on Dec. 6, 1989, when Marc Lepine, a 25-year-old deranged young man with a hatred for feminists and women in general, opened fire inside an engineering classroom. His reason for the unexplainable violence? Because they were women. Systematically separating the sexes, Lepine squeezed the trigger of his rifle, spraying bullets that killed 14 women and injuring dozens of others before turning the gun on himself. While Lepine's name has gone down in infamy in the nearly 30 years since, the names of the victims will like- ly only be known to the families and friends they left behind, and those who were intimately aware of the aftermath growing up in Quebec. To the rest of Canada and the world, they are young women who were robbed of living. Their families were robbed of seeing their daughters graduate, of learning of the career paths they would have chosen, of walking them down the aisle on their wedding day, or watching their daughters become mothers to their own children if they so chose one day. They could have done and been anything. Instead, they died on Dec. 6, 1989 simply for being born female. They are part of a world problem where women and girls are daily victims of gender-based violence. To remember the victims of the Montreal Massacre and bring awareness while striving for action to prevent violence against women and girls, candles were lit at vigils last night (Dec. 6) in communities across Canada. It's a day that has become known as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The day is a part of a global movement - 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence - which began on Nov. 25 and ends on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day. Important conversations will be had as we work to- ward equality for all. Be a part of the movement. #MYActionsMatter. • OUR VIEW • Be a part of the conversation Lack of respect for the military I am a Grade 10 student and was participating in a Canadian dance competi- tion on Remembrance Day. At 11 a.m., we were prompt- ed to take a moment of si- lence to commemorate and show our respect for mili- tary veterans and current servicemen and women. While I proudly wore my poppy and bowed my head in respect and reflec- tion, I was appalled by the utter lack of recognition and respect those around me showed. What was par- ticularly noticeable and ir- ritating was in general, the youth population did not break stride and continued as if nothing was happen- ing, and there was barely a change in the noise level. For simply one out of 526,000 minutes in the year, we civilians are asked to re- flect on the sacrifices of our military and show a little respect. Chances are, everybody has an ancestor, relative or family friend that has served. Those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and peaceful lives, deserve that minute. Therefore, if not for yourself, please show re- spect and thank them. Although most kids would stand for that mo- ment of silence, they are most likely unaware of why they are doing so. Teaching them how our ancestors shaped our lives would lead to so much more re- spect on the important day. We need to set an exam- ple by taking Nov. 11 more seriously. Let us be the role models for the many gener- ations to come. Emily Hambly Reader not surprised by Pride deficit I'm not surprised at all at Pride Toronto's enormous deficit with it's present stewardship that is "oh so clearly" out-of-touch with the vast majority of straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender citizens of what most envisage as an in- clusive, diverse, and multi- cultural city in harmony. Just like the Grinch's energies to stop Christmas, so it is with those party- poopers that obstructed the 2016 Pride Parade dis- appointing many tourists and Torontonians; howev- er, at the end of the day the celebrations, concerts, and dancing were unfettered by this little nuisance. Sure sounds like an effective boycott to me with the paramedics and fire de- partment and other parade regulars that protested by abstaining from Pride 2017 in support of "Toronto's Finest". Imagine the up- roar if there were such a disruption grinding the To- ronto Caribbean Carnival, Labour Day, or jolly Santa Claus Parade to a halt? Any councillors that may support a bailout courtesy of hard-working tax paying dollars will like- ly experience that wrath of voters next year and em- bolden the campaign of Doug Ford for mayor, who I am convinced, would vote against any future funding devoid of the presence of Toronto, Durham, and OPP officers, many with same- sex partners, and the Pa- rade favourites with their arsenals of water-guns and car sirens that until this charade made for a good old time for all. David C. Searle • LETTERS & COMMENTARY • EDITORIAL | OPINION The Georgetown Independent & Free Press, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corpora- tion. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 100 community publications across Ontario. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 ABOUT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 905-234-1016 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, e-mail customerservice@metroland.com or call 1-866-838-8960. CONTACT US Publisher Neil Oliver General Manager Steve Foreman Retail Advertising Manager Cindi Campbell Regional Managing Editor Chris Vernon Regional Managing Digital Editor Robyn Wilkinson Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Classified/Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Production Shelli Harrison WHO WE ARE