Dozens of residents and community workers gathered in Montreal’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood on Saturday to mark the deaths of two women killed in separate incidents of intimate-partner violence and to press for stronger measures to protect women.
Vigil and march through Frédéric-Back Park
The event, organised by Maison d’Haïti, began at Parvis Papineau and moved about 1.5 kilometres through Frédéric-Back Park, where participants observed a moment of silence and placed roses beneath a tree as a memorial.
- Participants carried roses and handmade signs.
- Organisers placed 100 roses beneath a tree, with 16 white roses representing women killed in Quebec in 2026.
- The march responded to the recent deaths of Leakkhena Seng and Kerline Jean, identified by police as intimate-partner violence.
Speakers and attendees stressed that the two killings — occurring less than 48 hours apart in the same neighbourhood — underscored the urgency of addressing gender-based violence in Montreal and across Quebec.
“I think we have to create something that will help women to be safe,” said Éric Ouellet, a participant at Saturday’s event. “I don’t understand why this happened right now. I mean it’s growing and growing every year, every month.”
Marie Christiana Joseph, project manager at the Réseau d’action pour l’égalité des femmes immigrées et racisées du Québec (RAFIQ), said the recent femicides highlighted the broader societal impact of intimate-partner violence. She warned that such deaths produce lasting consequences for families and communities.
Local context and calls for systemic change
The demonstration brought together community members, advocacy groups and social-service providers who called for concrete, systemic responses — from improved access to shelters and culturally appropriate services, to stronger prevention and intervention measures. Organisers also sought to draw attention to the disproportionate risks faced by immigrant and racialised women, a focus reflected in RAFIQ’s involvement.
While the march was a local expression of grief and solidarity, organisers linked the incident to a larger pattern: the 16 white roses placed at the park symbolised the 16 women killed in Quebec so far this year, a statistic organisers cited to stress that the problem extends beyond a single neighbourhood.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 100 roses | Memorial gesture at Frédéric-Back Park |
| 16 white roses | Women killed in Quebec in 2026 (organisers' count) |
The demonstration in Saint-Michel follows a string of high-profile cases that have renewed pressure on municipal, provincial and community actors to coordinate prevention, protection and support. Organisers emphasised the need for tangible commitments from public institutions to keep women safe and to provide resources tailored to survivors.
As investigations into the deaths of Leakkhena Seng and Kerline Jean continue, the march served both as a memorial and as a demand: community members want concrete action to reduce intimate-partner violence in Montreal and across the province.
