Community members are invited to take part in a series of commemorative events in recognition of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
Across Canada, Dec. 6 is observed as a day of mourning and remembrance of the victims of the 1989 Montreal massacre, when a gunman killed 14 female engineering students and staff at Polytechnique Montréal (formerly École Polytechnique).
It is also a day to commemorate the thousands of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, as well as members of the McMaster community and those around the world who have been harmed by gender-based violence.
There are several opportunities at McMaster for faculty, staff and students to learn, engage and show solidarity:
Pop-up booths on campus
Dec. 2 and 4 | Thode Library
Access resources and learn about how to be part of the movement to end gender-based violence.
McMaster Museum of Art exhibition by Sameer Farooq: The Fairest Order in the World
Dec. 3, 1:30-5:30pm and Dec. 5, 11am-7pm
A poetic and thought-provoking exploration of museums’ colonial histories through a mixed media installation
Learn more here
Behind the scenes tour of art based on the themes of Dec. 6
Dec. 4, 11:00-11:45am and 3:00-3:45pm | McMaster Museum of Art
Register here for opportunities for a guided tour
Commemorative event
Friday, December 6, 2024, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. | Togo Salmon Hall – Room 118
Program details: Opening remarks by Dean of Engineering Heather Sheardown, music by pianist and McMaster Engineering student Aidan Lao, drumming by Kindred Spirits, a panel discussion, video tribute and closing remarks by McMaster Chancellor Santee Smith – Tekaronhiáhkhwa. Refreshments to follow.
This year’s theme is: Remember, Reflect, Resist.
ASL interpretation and a downloadable captioning tool will be available. A virtual live stream option via YouTube is available. Please register with the form to receive the link closer to the event.
Panelists include Jessica Bonilla-Damptey and Anabelle B. Ragsag. Learn more about the panelists and register here.
Memorial Walk
Friday, December 6, 2024, 1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Outside of Togo Salmon Hall – Room 118, following the commemorative event
Following the commemorative event, a memorial walk will be held to honour the victims of violence against women. The walk will begin at Togo Salmon Hall and proceed to various spots on campus, totaling approximately 45 minutes. During the walk, participants will pass red dresses hung to symbolize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. If you are participating in the walk, please dress for the weather.
Register here
About the REDress Project
Red dresses hung around campus from December 2 to 6 are part of the REDress Project, an installation begun by Jaime Black, a Winnipeg-based artist, in 2010. Originally placed in downtown Winnipeg, red dresses have since been displayed in installations across the country as a way of drawing attention to the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.