A University of Windsor engineering student says she still feels very connected to the massacre at Ecole Polytechnique even though it happened before she was born.
The Montreal Massacre targeted women at the engineering school and killed 13 female students and one staff member.
"Knowing it was people just like you, doing the same thing you're doing, pursuing an education, it makes it that much deeper, makes it feel much more personal," said Crystal Dunn, president of the University of Windsor's Women in Engineering club.
Dunn says there is still some discrimination and bias that exist in this traditionally male field.
"Receiving fair education, without discrimination, without hate, without violence, it's something that I feel like shouldn't be asked for. You shouldn't have to ask to not be harrassed to pursue what you like and you shouldn't have to ask to be able to pursue your degree safely," said Dunn.
A vigil, attended by dozens of students and staff, was held at the university Friday morning to mark the 30th anniversary of the murders. Students read out each of the victims' names along with some facts about their lives and education goals. Those victims are Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.
On this National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence Against Women, the vigil also recognized Windsorite Lori Dupont, a nurse who was killed by her former boyfriend while at Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital in 2005.