RISE UP: THE STORY OF VANCOUVER RAPE RELIEF AND WOMEN’S SHELTER
Fierce working-class feminist advocate, Lee Lakeman, tells the story of Canada’s oldest rape crisis centre, the uprising of women there, and their decades long battle to stay women-only.
On December 6th, 1989, a gunman walked into a classroom at L’École Polytechnique in Montreal, separated the men from the women, and opened fire. Fourteen women were murdered simply for being women in a male-dominated space.
The media called it ‘senseless,’ but feminist groups like Vancouver Rape Relief knew the truth—this was not random. It was a deliberate act of misogynistic violence, a backlash against women’s progress. While politicians hesitated to name it, feminists took to the streets, holding vigils, reading the victims’ names, and demanding change.
In this episode, we explore how the massacre forced Canada to confront male violence as a systemic issue. We hear from activists like Lee Lakeman, who fought to name it for what it was—patriarchy pushing back against women’s right to exist and succeed.
The battle wasn’t just about one tragedy; it was about refusing to let violence against women be erased or dismissed ever again.
Brought to you by Julie Bindel and the Vancouver Lesbian Collective.
Producer: Samantha Smith
Artwork: Nicole Jones
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