Many memorials are being held Friday in remembrance of the Ecole Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, including one in Sackville, N.B. that is aiming to connect the tragedy with the next generation.

On Dec. 6, 1989, gunman Marc Lepine walked into the school and went on a shooting rampage, murdering 14 female engineering students. Nine others were wounded before Lepine turned the gun on himself.

Candlelight vigils are held every year to remember the victims of the Montreal massacre and commemorate Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Most students at Mount Allison University were born after the tragedy, but organizers say it’s important for them to reflect on the incident and ensure it never happens again.

“I think it’s important to know and realize and especially because how fortunate we are to be here, because there are people who were against us being educated at a higher level,” says student Erika Boudreau.

A vigil is being held at the university Friday evening in the hopes of connecting younger students with the tragedy.

Organizer Anthony Roberts says equality remains as one of the underlying issues.

“Women are still, by far, the victims of physical and sexual abuse in North America and beyond, and so it is important for us to recognize that, that there is a difference between sort of the formal equality that the law provides, and sort of the everyday lives of women,” says Roberts.

The event begins at 6 p.m. and will bring together many voices.

Organizer Melody Petlock says it’s about looking back, but also about moving forward.

“We have some students speaking about what this day means to them,” says Petlock. “We always have a tradition of remembering, but once we remember, thinking about what kinds of actions we can take.”

A short film by Cara Mumford, simply titled “December 6,” will be a starting point for discussion and Mumford will be participating via Skype.

Petlock says some young women today may not fully understand the sacrifices made for them by others.

“I don’t think most young women you talk to today would feel that their gender is a barrier to doing those things, so I think that is definitely progress,” she says. “By the same token, I think we still have a long way to go in terms of all taking responsibility.”

“Equality might sound a little bit sort of ideal, but in fact, we are talking about ideals, and ideally for me, it means that women feel safe and women aren’t assaulted,” says Roberts.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women was established by Canada’s parliament in 1991.

With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell