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For some people, the massacre of 14 women at the University of Montreal on Dec. 6 1989 continues to be a reminder of violence — such as rape, sexual harassment, incest, wife beating and murder — committed against women on an every day basis. On that day 19 years ago, 25-year-old Marc Lépine, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and hunting knife, shot a total of 28 people, killing half of them and then killing himself.
Just published book
This month, on the day before the anniversary of the massacre, Monique Lépine, the killer's mother, was invited by the Centre des Femmes Afrique au Féminin to speak in Park Extension. She recently published a book, Aftermath, in which she tells the story of her life before and after the massacre. A nurse and mother of two, Monique Lépine was on her way to a prayer meeting on the night of the killings, when he heard a news report of a crazed gunman at the École Polytechnique at the U of M.
She asked her prayer group to pray for the women and their families and the family of the killer, without realizing that the killer was her son and she was praying for herself. Thus began Monique Lépine's nightmare. Overcome by sadness, guilt, shame, isolation, in addition to the terrible pain of losing her son, she hid her grief for 17 years. She resisted the hordes of media from around the world who wanted to question her about what is still regarded as the worst mass shooting on Canadian soil.
Moved by Dawson shooting
What changed Lépine's mind about speaking publicly was another terrible event — the Dawson College shooting in September, 2006, when another lone gunman killed a young woman and injured many others. Lépine gave a television interview to broadcast journalist Harold Gagné, who authored the book with her assistance, and she subsequently received many sympathetic e-mails telling her that her story might help others struggling with grief. Monique Lépine learned at her workplace from colleagues that her son was the killer.
Soon thereafter, she was detained by the police, who also requested from her a photo of Marc Lépine, without stating why. The photo ended up being extensively published in news reports detailing the massacre. "I was treated like a criminal as I was interrogated. It was as if I was the criminal. They detained me for at least six hours during which they wanted to know over and over about my son's hobbies and interests. They were putting pressure on me to recall things when I wasn't capable of doing so." Monique Lépine said she has at various time questioned whether she had been a good mother towards her son.
Father was abusive
Marc was born Gamil Gharbi and later decided to take his mother's maiden name. She had separated from his Algerian father, who was physically, verbally and psychologically abusive, during the 1970s when Marc was still a child. After the father's departure, the family lived precariously for a while and endured the humiliation of having many of their belongings seized by bailiffs. When Monique Lépine was finally able to find well-being work, it took up so much of her time that she was unable to devote enough attention to Marc, or to her other child, a daughter, who subsequently also met a tragic end from drug abuse.
"The first 18 years I hid, but now I have come out to say no to violence," said Lépine. "What my son did 19 years ago I am against that sort of thing. It is something that is demented. Nonetheless, my son I still love him … Our children when they become adults and they make choices, they are responsible for the acts they commit. I am not a criminal. I have not killed anyone. I am the mother of a criminal and I know that I will be obliged to live with that all my life. But am I obliged to live with that by dwelling in pain and hiding? I say no. Why? Because we always have another chance in life."