Sheridan commemorates National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Activism

Last week, as part of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a commemoration was held in honour of the 14 female mechanical engineering students killed at Polytechnique Montreal in 1989 in an act of gender-based violence. 

Led by members of the Sheridan Student Union (SSU) and Sheridan’s Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEI), the day was marked by an event held at Sheridan’s Trafalgar Road Campus, and streamed to a virtual audience. Sheridan community members laid 14 roses in the Peace Garden, a permanent memorial to the victims, in honour of each of the women killed 35 years ago. Two additional roses were laid in honour of all victims of gender-based violence and the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women falls on Day 12 of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence — a global campaign aimed at raising awareness and encouraging action to prevent gender-based violence. 

Amalia Powell, SSU Vice President, Advocacy and Community Development, led the December 6 commemoration as emcee, and was supported by other members of the SSU as speakers and rose bearers. Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance '24 alumna Izzy Eryavec performed a moving rendition of I Will Remember You, written by Sarah McLachlan, Seamus Egan and Dave Merenda. 

Each year, the campaign runs from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25) to Human Rights Day (December 10). The dates are chosen in an effort to link violence against women and human rights, and emphasize that gender-based violence against women is a violation of human rights. 

“[Sheridan’s] commitment to create and maintain safe and respectful spaces to work, live and learn as a collaborative, and to stand up against gender-based violence, will never waver,” said Lianne Kendall Perfect, Sheridan’s Sexual Violence Response Specialist, during the event. “We must all use our voices and our collective actions to promote gender equity in our spheres of influence and work towards the eradication of gender-based violence in our communities.” 

The Sheridan community was invited to participate in various initiatives at each campus throughout the 16 Days of Activism, including: hallway connections offered by peer mentors (including a 'kissing booth' encouraging students to critically think about and understand consent and a 'Myths and Facts' game to engage students in conversations and debunk myths about violence against women); resources and activities at the women’s and men’s basketball games at Davis Campus; office hours with members of the Sheridan Student Union executive team to talk about advocacy and how to prevent gender-based violence; and an Instagram campaign to raise awareness and consideration of the roles our community may play in preventing sexual and gender-based violence and sharing resources available for support at Sheridan.

The community also had the opportunity to wear a white ribbon and to sign the Dare to Care banner, pledging to take a stand against sexual assault and violence on campus and in the community.

To access support at Sheridan, visit the Student Services webpage.