/R E P E A T -- 20th Anniversary of Montreal Massacre: Women's College
Hospital Remembers/

TORONTO , Dec. 3 /CNW/ - Women's College Hospital will hold its annual ceremony in recognition of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 .

    
    WHAT:  A commemorative 20th anniversary service, in memory of the
           14 young women who were murdered in an act of gender-based
           violence at l'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989. The service
           will be held at Women's College Hospital as part of the National
           Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
           established in 1991 by the Canadian Government.

           Delivering the keynote address entitled "Why men matter:
           preventing gendered violence" will be Dr. Lori Haskell, clinical
           psychologist, assistant professor in psychiatry at the University
           of Toronto and an academic research associate with the Centre for
           Research on Violence Against Women and Children. Her interest is
           in trauma, revictimization, sexual abuse and sexual violence in
           relation to psychological development.

           Fourteen individuals will place roses in a vase as a touching
           gesture of remembrance when the names of the 14 murdered women are
           read aloud. A 15th rose will be placed by Dr. Haskell in
           remembrance of the women and children slain through domestic
           violence in Ontario during the past year. Also participating in
           the ceremony will be The Honourable Laurel Broten, Minister of
           Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Women's
           Issues, George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre, The Honourable
           Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Member of Parliament, Dr. Eric Hoskins, MPP,
           St. Paul's, and Toronto Chief of Police, William Blair among
           others.

    WHEN:  Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 - 12 noon to 1 p.m.

    WHERE: Cummings Auditorium
           Women's College Hospital
           76 Grenville St. Toronto Ont.
    

For further information: Jodi Salem, Manager, Media and Internal Relations, Women's College Hospital, [phone] ext. 4054, [email protected]