"Twelve years ago today, the lives of 14 young women were brutally cut short by a man who targeted them because of their gender.

Canadians were stricken with grief. We felt sorrow and sympathy for the victims and their families. We also felt anger at the unspeakable crime that had taken place and the realization that it could have been us who lost a sister, a daughter, a niece, a granddaughter, a partner or a friend. Canadians took that fear, that sorrow and that anger, and they set out to make a change – the kind of change that would improve the safety and quality of life of Canadian women, their families and their communities.

In 1991, the Government of Canada established December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Over the past decade, we in government have also endeavoured to better understand and promote awareness about violence against women.

We can all share in meeting the dual challenges of ending violence against women and building a better society for all. As Canadians gather across the country to mark this day of solemn remembrance, let us pledge to redouble our efforts to bring about positive and lasting change."