New plaque for engineering building to commemorate Dec. 6 murders

It has been more than 20 years since the senseless murder of 14 female engineering students at l'École Polytechnique in Montr&e#180;al on Dec. 6, 1989. This year, in conjunction with the annual event to honour their memory and acknowledge the ongoing struggle to end violence against women, UVic will unveil a commemorative plaque outside the Engineering Laboratory Wing.

Dean of Engineering Tom Tiedje proposed the idea of commissioning the plaque over a year ago to Adviser on Equity and Diversity Grace Wong Sneddon. "Last year there was a lot of interest in doing something special to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Montr&e#180;al massacre, and someone suggested that we create a physical memorial," says Tiedje. He took a proposal to the Faculty of Engineering Council in late 2009, whose members unanimously approved the project.

"This will be a lasting legacy for every day of the year, recognizing the tragedy that occurred, raising awareness and pointing out the need to do things differently," Wong Sneddon says.

After gaining approval from l'École Polytechnique, Wong Sneddon facilitated a unique partnership between the faculties of fine arts and engineering. "Design is a core element for each of these faculties, and this was a wonderful opportunity for students to create something memorable jointly," says Tiedje.

Sandra Meigs (fine arts) coordinated a contest for the plaque design, and a judging panel chose second-year MFA student Laura Dutton's image of vines climbing up a brick wall.

Dutton's sensitive design originated with a photo she took while an undergraduate student at Concordia University in Montr&e#180;al. The fact that Dutton had a family friend who was working at l'École Polytechnique at the time of the event propelled her interest in submitting a proposal, although she had never before attempted a design for a piece of public art.

"The symbolism is meant to signify the tenacity and persistence of feminist thought and struggle and the enduring fight for equal rights in our society," she says. "The vines climbing up the wall are symbolic of vitality and continual growth. There are 14 sets or clusters of leaves, seven on each vine, each connected to the next. I see them representing the 14 women who lost their lives on Dec. 6, 1989."

Dutton's design was turned over to mechanical engineering student Maxym Rukosuyev, who, under the direction of assistant professor Martin Byung-Guk Jun, created 3D models of the leaves, vines and brick wall using CAD software. After optimizing the machining process to simulate the three-dimensional surface of real vines, Rukosuyev machined the plaque from aluminum using a CNC milling machine. The Faculty of Fine Arts contributed the costs of the materials.

The plaque will be installed near the eastern entrance of the Engineering Laboratory Wing, off parking lot A and Ring Road. "The quiet location of the plaque, near benches and trees, invites people to sit and reflect," says Wong Sneddon.
A few other Canadian universities, including McGill, McMaster, the University of Alberta and l'École Polytechnique, as well as cities such as Vancouver, have also erected memorials.

The UVic plaque will be unveiled on Dec. 3, as part of the annual campus ceremony marking the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The day of remembrance honours the 14 women's memories and is a call for continued hope for change and positive action on violence against women. Featuring speakers and music, the ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. in front of the library.