Notre Dame students bring back commemorative ceremony for École Polytechnique tragedy

James Culic Niagara This Week - Welland
Saturday, December 4, 2021

The École Polytechnique tragedy saw 14 women murdered by a deranged man who thought only men belonged in engineering school. When students from Notre Dame College School in Welland commemorate the event with a vigil each year on the anniversary of the tragic event, they choose 15 young women as representatives.

Each student represents one of the 14 murdered women, and tells their story, while a 15th student acts a stand-in for all the victims of male violence against women that have been lost in the 32 years since the École Polytechnique massacre on Dec. 6, 1989.

“We do this to raise awareness among our student body, so that our students gain a better understanding of the tragic events that occurred that day,” said Notre Dame teacher Tanya Garofalo Cirone, who helps organize the event alongside fellow teacher Tara Markovich.

The event was cancelled last year for the first time because of the pandemic, and Markovich said they’re pleased to be able to bring it back this year.

“It’s important to commemorate the victims so we never forget what happened that day,” said Markovich.