Manitoba marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

A sunrise ceremony in the Manitoba legislature on Dec. 4, 2025, marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. (Owen Swinn/CTV News Winnipeg)

Their names rang through the Manitoba Legislature as students placed a white rose in front of the photos of 14 women whose lives were cut short in a brutal act of gender-based violence.

Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte.

“These women were targeted explicitly because of their gender. This was not random. This was not senseless. This was male violence rooted in misogyny. And it changed this country forever,” Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said during a sunrise ceremony in the Manitoba legislature Thursday morning, marking the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

On Dec. 6, 1989, a man walked into the Polytechnique Montreal, motivated by a hatred of feminists. There he shot and killed 14 women and injured 13 others.

“The Montreal Massacre was not an isolated event. It sits on a continuum, a long uninterrupted line of male violence that women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse peoples face every single day in Manitoba, across Canada, and around the world.”

Fontaine pointed to Manitoba holding some of the highest rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and two-spirit people.

The ceremony also honoured Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myron, Morgan Harris, and Ashlee Shingoose.

Fontaine noted on Monday, the search of the Brady Landfill began to bring Shingoose home following the successful search of the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of Myron and Harris.

“This work reflects Manitoba’s deep commitment to reconciliation and to addressing the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and two-spirit people,” said Amna Mackin, acting deputy minister for Indigenous reconciliation, who led the search of the Prairie Green Landfill.

She said that work continues with the search of the Brady Landfill.

“Violence against women is not just a women’s issue; it is a societal issue, and it demands action from all of us.

Along with the 14 women, the ceremony placed a 15th white rose for all other victims of gender-based violence.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is on Saturday, Dec. 6.