SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Around 40 people braved the blowing snow Monday night to remember 14 women gunned down far away two decades ago.

Kelsey Roberts, left, Samantha Kataoyak, Francine Ouellette and Jessica Chaisson were all born after the 1989 murder of 14 women in Montreal and were surprised to hear about the day of remembrance. - Kira Curtis/NNSL photos

The tragic incident continues to strike a chord close to home.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the Red Rose Campaign were born out of the 1989 shootings of 14 women at l'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.

Marc Lepine targeted the women because he believed feminism was ruining traditional values and jobs for men, among other things.

The murders have resonated with people across Canada for more than 20 years and it rang true through the people sitting in the vigil Monday evening. Men and women from around Yellowknife slowly filtered into the Salvation Army, each with their own experience and connection. Francine Ouellette said she's been lucky not to have experienced any violence - her mom raised her well.

"My mom taught me to be strong. Don't take crap," she said.

But for Ouellette's friend Kelsey Roberts, the vigil was more than showing awareness. It struck close to home and at times became emotional.

When Roberts was a kid she was bullied by other children and remembers feeling frightened.

"I relate to it," Roberts said. "It really hits hard."

Health and Social Services Minister Sandy Lee stood up and told the crowd about where she was the day of the Montreal shootings.

For Lee, she said it was an event that stayed with her. She too was a young woman, 25-years-old and at home in Yellowknife on break from school. It shocked her to think it could have happened to anyone at that time. The idealism of many young women were challenged that day, but the awareness of violence against women in Canada was elevated, she said.

Lee said the issue of violence against women in the North is an even larger issue than in the rest of Canada. The rate of violence against women is almost two times higher in Canada's three territories than the national average, according to a 2006 Statistics Canada report. The average in the three territories is 13 per cent, compared to the national average of 7 per cent.

Candles were lit at the end of the ceremony, organized by the Salvation Army, YWCA and the Status of Women Council of the NWT, to honour the lives of the 14 women and as a reminder that violence against women will not stand in today's society.

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