Vigils mark 29th anniversary of École Polytechnique massacre

A sombre anniversary is being marked across the country Thursday — it’s been 29 years since the mass shooting at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

On December 6, 1989, 25-year-old Marc Lépine walked onto campus and fatally shot 14 women because of their gender. Ten other women and four men were injured during the shooting before Lépine killed himself on campus.

The massacre would end up being the deadliest shooting incident in Canadian history.

In Toronto, Women’s College Hospital will hold its annual rose laying ceremony to pay tribute to the 14 women who were murdered and commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

There will also be a vigil at Philosopher’s Walk on Bloor Street, west of Avenue Road, at 6 p.m.

A candlelight vigil will also be held at the Ontario Provincial Police headquarters in Orillia.

In Montreal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife will take part in a vigil on Mont Royal honouring the 14 victims.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau said his government plans to limit access to handguns and assault weapons to confront gun violence in the country.

Speaking to Montreal radio station 98.5 FM, Trudeau did not rule out a full ban when asked by the host.

The prime minister says the government is looking at different alternatives to address a situation he called unacceptable. But he says the goal is to limit the easy access criminals have to handguns and assault weapons.

In 2015, Trudeau campaigned on a promise to get handguns and assault weapons off the streets, but gun-control advocates recently criticized the government for failing to follow through.

With files from The Canadian Press