Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknifers gathered in the basement of the Royal Canadian Legion, clutching roses and holding lit candles Thursday to remember the 14 women shot dead by an enraged gunman at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989.

Sandy Lee, minister in charge of the status of women, spoke of violence against women in the NWT.

Ten-year-old Ali Fleming holds a lit candle during a vigil on Thursday at the Royal Canadian Legion hall for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

"We have every right to call on everyone to take a stance on gender-based violence," said Lee.

The names of the 14 women were recited as their silhouettes were hung on the wall.

But it was a story told by Ashley Geraghty that brought gasps and tears among the people gathered.

He began by telling a story of two young men.

The first "saw a woman being stabbed, he tried to save her and was beaten and stabbed."

The second was at camp and tried to call the woman, and after several days of not getting a response, he had a friend drive him several hours to her home.

It was through the window of the back door that he saw her lying on the stairs.

"This young man managed to stay composed while he called the police," said Geraghty.

The first was his three-year-old nephew, who saw his mother stabbed and tried to rescue her.

The second was his other nephew, 11, who does not remember finding his mother's body.

Geraghty's sister was murdered in Sherbrooke, Que. by her husband in the summer of 2006.

Geraghty spoke about the effects of her murder on him and his sister's children.