It has been 30 years since the mass shooting at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal that saw the promising lives of 14 women cut violently short. This senseless act of violence was targeted and tragic.

Please join organizers in the Acadia University Women's and Gender Studies program at 4 p.m. on Friday, December 6 at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market in a community ceremony to commemorate the lives of the 14 women on the anniversary of their murders.

As we mark this national tragedy, we also acknowledge that 30 years later, women, girls and LGBTQ2 individuals across Canada still face violence, negatively impacting their health and well-being and reducing their ability to participate fully in society. It hurts them, and it hurts our communities.

As one of the first universities in the British Empire to educate and graduate women, Acadia exists as a beacon of enlightenment and we are proud to stand for diversity and inclusivity in our society. We abhor violence and discrimination in all of its forms, and we are committed to building a more just and safe society in which all people can thrive and achieve their dreams. Sadly, we still see violence and discrimination against women in our society today, and while we have come a long way since 1989, there is still much to do as we seek to create a more just society.

Let us pause to think about the lives lost those 30 years ago and pledge to do everything we can to end violence against women and in our society more broadly.

Sincerely,

Peter

Dr. Peter Ricketts
President and Vice-Chancellor