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Thursday 6 February 2020

Pause

The park sits in the centre of the older part of the city. It is named after Heather Moyse, a young woman from Summerside who is a two time Olympic gold medalist in two-woman bobsled. Heather is an all round athlete having competed internationally in rugby and cycling as well. 


The park is a gathering place for activities throughout the year and is well groomed and maintained year round. It features labelled native island trees and the trails wind over bridges across streams. The irises alone in summer are enough to brighten one’s day.


What always causes me pause in this park is the memorial for the victims of the Dec 6th massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989. Fourteen young women were murdered when a man, citing his anti-feminist stance, walked into an engineering class, separated the men from the women and opened fire.





The women’s names are engraved in stone here and flowers left from the December 6 ceremony are encased in the ice and snow. The names are frozen in time, their spirits forever young and strong. 


December 6th in Canada has become a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. We remember the fourteen but focus on the struggle women face in our world and how we can help. Many of us have friends or loved ones who experience violence or experience it ourselves.


This park celebrates a strong, capable woman who is living her best life. But we pause in this beautiful place every time we’re here to remember these other women who were cut down in their prime, who didn’t have that opportunity. Their names represent the millions of others who suffer behind closed doors, in silence and fear. Walking here in winter the silence and fear are manifested in the biting cold.


We pause and walk on, in hope of better days.


20 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I remember so well hearing that horrible news on Dec 6, 1989. Hard to believe it's been 30 years since then. Those of us who were feminists knew right away it was an act of misogyny and called it such (and were viewed as extremists for doing so). It's been only recently that it's become the "mainstream" view of the event in the media and among the public. Better late than never, I guess, but it also says a lot about our culture and society.

Angela said...

Beautiful place! Thank you for the history lesson Marie. I didn't know. I love that places like Canada knows the value of cleaning, preserving and taking care of a place like this so it will exist in the future. I have been in countries where things like this just quickly looks like an abandoned lot where they start to throw trash.

Debbie said...

it's such a beautiful memorial. we've come a long way and have a long way to go!!

the roses are still yellow in your beautiful picture. the snow looks so pretty too!!

Celia said...

I'd forgotten that horrible day and I shouldn't. I have seven bright granddaughters and my heart still hurts for those young women and their families.

At Home In New Zealand said...

So many dreadful things happen and have happened in this beautiful world of ours. It makes me sad.

Elephant's Child said...

Such a heartbreaking reason for a memorial. I hope that lessons are learned. And acted on. World wide.

William Kendall said...

Very poignant.

There is a memorial here as well for the victims of that day.

DJan said...

Having moved up close to the Canadian border a decade ago, I'm beginning to learn more of the country's history. I did not know about this incident. Of course it was misogyny. Thank you for educating me, Marie.

Ruth Hiebert said...

That park sounds like a lovely place to visit, at any time of year.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

What a lovely tribute Marie.. a horrific and tragic day. There will always be men who treat women badly, just as there will always be those that discriminate against colour, we can only hope with each new generation things will get better and better 💙

Rose said...

I cannot imagine being the parent or grandparent of one of the girls....I don't ever remember hearing of this.

Linda dev said...

I cannot fathom that I have never heard this story. Where could I have possibly been to have missed it?

This is a lovely memorial and beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing the story.

Joanne Noragon said...

I find it difficult to add more. I wish it would never happen again.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

A commemoration of one of the darkest days in Canadian history. We should never be allowed to forget it.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, what a wonderful park and memorial. What a sad and tragic story about the 14 women murdered. It is good your country has the Act on Violence Against Women, right now in the great USA our country's politicians(Senate) will not renew this act. I am hoping and praying for better days!

Wishing you a happy day and weekend.

photowannabe said...

Wow, what an awful thing to happen.
I like your closing statement...
We pause and walk on, in Hope of better days...
Beautiful words and a beautiful memorial.

Tabor said...

I think we are becoming more tolerant of all groups. I do not like the rhetoric these past years and we do have too many angry militant men...but we are moving forward. That is a lovely and important memorial.

Rhodesia said...

A sad day but a fitting tribute. Have a good week, Diane

Barbara said...

I do not remember hearing of that killing spree. So sad. It breaks my heart and I'm glad that put up a nice memorial.

baili said...

oh this was traumatic story of murdered women dear Marie !!!!!!!!!!!!

never heard before ,how painful that a man can kill many women for being just what they were meant to be

such extreme actions only enhance the power to women because with each push of wave we try harder to swim better next time

Heather sounds inspiring lady with amazing skills