Cindy MacDougall
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 15/99) - Stephanie Normandin was only five years old when the shots rang out at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique. She was too young to remember Marc Lepine's murder of 14 young women on Dec. 6, 1989.

Jennifer Howie (left) and Sheila Hart stand in silence during the candlelight ceremony at the legislative assembly Monday in memory of women who have experienced violence (Cindy MacDougall/ NNSL photo).

Yet she represented one of the women as she lit a candle during a ceremony at the legislative assembly Monday at noon.

"It's a really big issue," said the 15-year-old St. Patrick high school student as she clutched a red rose. "So many other issues get people's attention. We need people to think about this."

The service commemorated the 10th anniversary of the massacre, and all women who have suffered from violence. It was postponed a week due to the territorial election. About 200 people gathered in the Great Hall to sing, pray, speak and remember.

Students from Sir John Franklin and St. Patrick high schools represented the 14 women by lighting candles and carrying roses.

St. Pat's Choral Society sang while the flame was passed from candle to candle, illuminating the room with flickering lights.

Lyda Fuller, executive director of the Yellowknife YWCA, spoke of the importance of stopping violence and anger against women.

"Not only is the response of violence inappropriate, so is the anger shown when women dare to do things which are non-traditional," she said, her voice choking with tears.

"Must women see anger and feel fear each time they choose to be non-traditional?"

After the ceremony, Fuller said she remembers her reaction to the massacre.

"I walked into work and burst into tears," she said. "Everyone was just so stunned. For me, that was when the lightbulb went on that violence isn't something we could contain inside the shelter."

Stephanie Prpick-Boss, a member of the RCMP's auxiliary, said a recent trip to Montreal brought the tragedy home.

"We went by the university where it happened," she said, "and afterwards, we went and lit a candle in the church."

Her advice to any woman suffering abuse?

"Maintain your self-respect and self-esteem and get help from others, because you're not alone," Prpick-Boss said.

Fuller said a change in attitude must happen in our society before women will be safe.

"People really have to embrace equality and realize we're all human beings, we all have our talents," she said. "And we all need to be contributing members of society in the way that best fits ourselves."