Marc Lepine: The Man Behind the Polytechnique Massacre
On December 6, 1989, Marc Lepine walked into École Polytechnique in Montreal and committed one of the most devastating mass shootings in Canadian history. Armed with a rifle and a deep-seated resentment towards feminists, Lepine separated men from women in a classroom and opened fire on the female students. By the end of his rampage, 14 women lay dead, 13 others were injured, and Lepine himself had taken his own life. His actions and the note he left behind, which blamed feminists for his misfortunes, made the attack not just a tragedy, but a symbol of gender-based violence.
Honoring the Victims: Annual Remembrance in Montreal
Each year, Montreal holds a ceremony to honor the 14 women killed in the Polytechnique massacre. The 36th anniversary, observed in 2025, continues a tradition that began in 2014 on Mount Royal, where the city’s mayor, Quebec’s premier, and Canada’s prime minister often attend. The focal point of the evening is the lighting of fourteen beams of light at precisely 5:10 p.m.—the time the attack began. This ritual is both a tribute and a stark reminder of the lives cut short by Lepine’s violence.
In addition to the main ceremony, representatives from Polytechnique Montréal and student associations gather each morning to lay white roses at the memorial plaque on campus. This quiet act of remembrance has become a ritual for more than three decades, inviting members of the public to reflect on the event and pay their respects. The names of those killed—Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz—are read aloud, ensuring they are never forgotten.
The Broader Impact: Legislation and Social Change
The Polytechnique massacre triggered a national reckoning in Canada. In the aftermath, calls for stricter gun control laws gained momentum, leading to tighter regulations and a shift in public attitudes about firearms. But the impact went deeper: December 6 was designated as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Across the country, people gather not only to remember the victims of 1989, but to confront the ongoing reality of gender-based violence in all its forms.
Last year, marking the 35th anniversary, organizers added a fifteenth beam of light to the ceremony. This new addition commemorates all women murdered as a result of violence, expanding the memorial’s scope and acknowledging that the struggle for safety and equality continues well beyond the events of that single night. The massacre’s legacy, in other words, is not confined to history—it remains a living challenge for Canadian society.
Marc Lepine: Motives and the Aftermath
Marc Lepine’s motivations were meticulously documented in his suicide note and subsequent investigations. He expressed a belief that feminists had ruined his life, a sentiment that has prompted extensive debate about the roots of misogyny and the dangers of radicalized resentment. For many, the Polytechnique massacre forced uncomfortable questions: What drives a person to such hatred? How can society prevent similar tragedies?
While Lepine’s name is remembered as the perpetrator, the annual ceremonies and public discourse focus overwhelmingly on the victims and the systems that failed to protect them. The attack is often described as a watershed moment in Canadian history—an event that shattered the illusion of safety and exposed deep-seated prejudices that persist to this day.
Continuing the Conversation: Remembrance and Responsibility
The Polytechnique massacre has become a touchstone for discussions about violence against women, mental health, and the power of remembrance. Every year, the ceremony serves as both a memorial and a call to action. By coming together, lighting beams, laying roses, and reciting names, Montrealers and Canadians at large reaffirm their commitment to a safer, more equitable society.
The legacy of Marc Lepine’s violence is complex, marked by grief but also by resilience. The victims’ families, survivors, and advocates have transformed their pain into activism, pushing for reforms and working to ensure that the lessons of 1989 are not forgotten. The annual gathering on Mount Royal is more than a ritual—it is a collective statement: never again.
Thirty-six years after Marc Lepine’s attack, Montreal’s steadfast remembrance serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of hatred and the enduring need for vigilance against gender-based violence. The ceremony does not erase the tragedy, but it does ensure that the victims are honored, and that their stories fuel ongoing change.