The world won't stand still on Thursday, Dec. 6.

But a few people will. They'll take a moment to remember the senseless deaths of 14 women who were murdered exactly 23 years ago at Montreal's École Polytechnique.

It started out as an ordinary day of classes for Geneviève Bergeron, Nathalie Croteau, Anne-Marie Edward, Maryse Laganière, Anne-Marie Lemay, Michèle Richard, Annie Turcotte, Hélène Colgan, Barbara Daigneault, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Leclair, Sonia Pelletier, Annie St-Arneault and Barbara Klusznik Widajewicz - until a man with a gun walked into the room, ordered them and the other women in their class to separate from the men, and opened fire on all the women.

In a sense, it remained an ordinary day, despite the horrific violence perpetrated on those women that day.

Because horrific violence is perpetrated against women every day, every ordinary day.

The Montreal Massacre has become a focal point for those who will stand still at candlelight vigils throughout the Lower Mainland and elsewhere.

The night will be filled with people holding candles and pondering their own memories of horrific violence - against themselves, against someone they love or against someone they once knew.

Violence against women continues to be a part of our social fabric. It continues to be a horrific problem, despite the dramatic events of Dec. 6, 1989, and despite all those who will stand still with their candles in recognition of the awfulness of that day.

The problem continues, because too many people stand far too still all the rest of the year.

Dec. 6 has become known as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

There has been lots of remembrance. It's high time there was some action.