equity

December 6th Memorial Story

December 6th, 1989, a young man entered a classroom full of engineering students at the University of Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique. Ordering the women to move to one side of the room and the men to leave, he shouted to the women. "You're all a bunch of feminists, and I hate feminists." He then opened fire. Six of the women in the room were shot dead. The gunman continued his rampage throughout the building, killing a total of 14 women. He also injured 14 more people, mostly women, before using the gun to kill himself.

Tree of Hope

In 1993 Ryerson Interior Design student Alexandra Leikermoser proposed creating a sculpture that commemorates the events of December 6th, and communicates feminist issues and environmental consciousness. The sculpture called the "Tree of Hope" occured on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, December 6th, 1994. The sculpture is located on the east side of the Kerr Hall quadrangle and provides an ongoing opportunity for awareness, and serves as a focal point for Ryerson's annual December 6th Memorial observances.

"To single out and blame is not the answer,
to educate is"

"Today we plant a tree that will not die;
A tree of hope and growth to educate
and create awareness of all acts
of violence."