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Montreal Massacre Commemorated in Vancouver

Posted by Daniel on Dec 6, 2010 - 5 comments

Today marks the 21st anniversary of the Montreal Massacre when 14 women were shot and killed by a lone gunman at the Ecole Polytechnique.

Many people may not realize that there is a monument to the tragic event here in Vancouver. Located in Thornton Park opposite the Via Rail station, it was dedicated on Dec. 6, 1997. Designed by Beth Alber, it features a circle of 14 raised granite benches surrounded by a ring of bricks set in the ground and bearing the names of contributors.

The story of the monument is told in a fascinating recent book by SFU geographer Adrienne Burk, Speaking for a Long Time: Public Space and Social Memory in Vancouver (UBC Press). The book also considers the public monuments in Crab Park and Oppenheimer Park, telling their history and wondering about their meaning.

Labels: BOOKS, MONUMENTS, PUBLIC STATUES, URBAN SCENE
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