Dec. 6 marks 30 years since the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, memorialized in Canada as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
The massacre was pivotal in starting a wider conversation about violence against women — an issue that still persists and disproportionately affects marginalized populations.
According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women, women living with disabilities, women in rural or remote areas and women who identify as lesbian or bisexual are at even greater risk of violence.
In Saskatchewan, the rates of police-reported violence against girls and young women and intimate partner violence are the highest among the provinces.
Sexual health advocates say comprehensive, inclusive sexual health education has a role to play in bringing down those numbers.