#endFemicide December 6th Remembrance Poster

Poster design and illustration. On December 6, 1989, a male gunman targeted and shot several women students at l’École Polytechnique in Montreal. 14 women died and 10 others were injured. It was one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history, and the women were targeted simply because they were women. This year’s targeted stabbing of three women in a gender studies class at the University of Waterloo was a chilling reminder of the ongoing and ever-present threat of gender-based violence. Today, we ask everyone to reflect on the true impact of gender-based violence, the impact on our families, schools, workplaces, and communities. Gender-based violence has ended far too many lives and traumatized countless others. Entire communities are shaken to the core when a femicide occurs, and yet, this horrific crime is on the rise in Canada. On average, one woman or girl is killed every two days in Canada. We can and must do more to keep women, girls, those who are Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people safe. The recent sharp increase in incidents of misogynist, transphobic, and homophobic hate, both online and in person, at work and in our communities, have further exacerbated long-standing injustices. As a public education union, we have a huge role to play in ending gender-based violence and all forms of misogyny and hate in our workplaces, schools, campuses, and communities. The creation of the OSSTF/FEESO Women’s Advocate Program was passed as part of the 2018- 2019 Strategic Action Plan, and we are proud to share that we have Women’s Advocates in nearly every OSSTF/FEESO district across Ontario.