Honouring the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Each year, Dec. 6 marks the annual National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. This day was established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, two years after the devastating and targeted attack at École Polytechnique in Montreal, where 14 young women were murdered and 10 were injured, simply because of their gender.

We come together to remember those women whose lives were taken. It is a moment to raise awareness about the need for change, to educate our community, to demand an end to gender-based violence, and to offer hope for the many women and girls who continue to be impacted by it.

The memorial ceremony

On Friday, Dec. 5, All members of the University of Calgary and the public are invited to join Calgary's annual ceremony of remembrance and violence. The ceremony is free and will be available for attendance in person and online (live-streamed and recorded).

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women ceremony:

• Date: Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
• Time: 12:15 - 1 p.m.
• Location: Engineering Main Atrium (ENG 122)

This year's ceremony features three speakers who bring unique perspectives from across the campus community:

Lorraine Ndovi, vice-president internal, UCalgary Students' Union

Lorraine Ndovi is the UCalgary Students' Union vice-president internal for the 83rd Students' Legislative Council. She is also currently the board chair for CJSW, the university's own radio station. As a student in the Faculty of Social Work, Ndovi is dedicated to leaving the spaces she is in better than when she found them. She is dedicated to using positions to support students experiencing hardship and amplifying their voices.

As part of the first all-women executive in Students' Union history, Ndovi captures a unique perspective to the challenges that come with experiencing and disclosing sexual and gender-based violence.

Sarah Kromm, vice-president external, Graduate Students' Association  

Sarah Kromm is an MBA student and the Graduate Students' Association's vice-president external, dedicated to building a safer and more inclusive campus community. She is committed to equity, student well-being and community engagement, alongside being a mother of three.

Honouring the victims at École Polytechnique, Kromm will highlight the ongoing impacts of gender-based violence in Canada, particularly on marginalized communities, and the role universities and graduate students play in supporting survivors and advancing systemic change. 

Dr. Liza Lorenzetti, Faculty of Social Work

Dr. Liza Lorenzetti, MSW'06, PhD'17, is a social work scholar, activist and educator whose work focuses on gender-based violence, anti-racism and social justice through an intersectional lens. Drawing on decades of community practice, she is committed to advancing equity, accountability and collective well-being.

Lorenzetti's lived experience in Montreal during the 1989 tragedy has shaped her lifelong commitment to ending interconnected forms of violence. Her message will call for decolonial, racial, gender, and disability justice; an understanding that meaningful change begins with every-day actions and collective responsibility.

Candle-making tradition

Candles made by campus community members are sold during 16 Days of Activism between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Nov. 25) and the International Human Rights Day (Dec. 10). These handmade beeswax candles are available for purchase at tables across campus.

Through these initiatives, UCalgary aims to highlight the perspectives of women across the university, champion fairness and inclusivity, and create a setting where women feel encouraged to discuss gender-based violence and advocate for meaningful change.