Events planned to mark sombre 30th anniversary of Polytechnique massacre

MONTREAL – Several events are planned across the country today to mark the grim 30th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

On the evening of Dec. 6, 1989, a gunman entered Montreal’s Ecole polytechnique, killing 14 women in an anti-feminist mass slaying before taking his own life.

Later this morning, students and staff at the school’s campus will place a wreath of white roses at a commemorative plaque.

Also today, a book about the events and the stories behind the 14 victims written by former Le Devoir journalist Josee Boileau will be released.

In the evening, the public will gather on Mount Royal at 5:10 p.m. – when the first shots were fired – and 14 beams of light will shine over the Montreal skyline as the names of the 14 women are read aloud.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and Quebec Premier Francois Legault are among the dignitaries expected at the event.

To mark the 30th anniversary, 14 engineering schools across the country will also each shine a beam of light in honour of the victims.

The victims were honoured Thursday at a ceremony at the Quebec national assembly, while the City of Montreal changed the wording on a plaque Thursday at the Place du 6-decembre-1989 to reflect the attack was anti-feminist and that 14 women were killed.

The Canadian Press