“Every year we try to do something to remember what happened, and we also take that time to think about what we’re doing now for change,” explains Lynn Zimmer, executive director of the YWCA of Peterborough Victoria and Haliburton.

Locally, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is being organized by a local group of women activists called The Women’s Events Committee.

The one-hour commemoration takes place Dec. 5 at noon at Cinema 379 on George Street.

“It is important that we acknowledge what happened and not forget,” Lynn says of the massacre. “As we tell the story each year to the next generation, we find they often haven’t heard about it before.”

In 1989, 14 female students at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique were gunned down in a classroom in the school’s engineering building.

Following the tragedy, the families of the victims got together and formed the Coalition for Gun Control, explains Lynn.

“That’s a good example of something practical – of making change for the better,” she notes. “That’s the kind of thing we’re hoping (to inspire) by having events like this.”

Making change is vital. However, the event itself will focus more on remembering the women and raising awareness of violence toward women, continues Lynn.

“It’s more about the sense that we not forget – that we remember why we care about these issues and that we recognize that change is still needed.”

The event will include a remembrance of the women, a video presentation (called After the Montreal Massacre), and a discussion.

“We’ll also leave space for reflection,” adds Lynn.

The event is open to everyone.

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