TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 6, 2013) - Twenty-four years ago, on December 6, 1989, fourteen women were killed at École Polytechnique in Montreal, simply because they were women. The Montreal Massacre, as it became known, was a galvanizing moment in which mourning turned to outrage about all violence perpetrated against women.

Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) members will be participating in events across Ontario honouring the lives of those women and working with students to implement initiatives aimed at preventing violence against women.

"Our members have been actively involved for many years educating our students and the public about gender-based violence and harassment," said OSSTF/FEESO President, Paul Elliott. "Last year we partnered with the White Ribbon Campaign to provide an online resource for secondary school educators, youth and youth workers, called It Starts With You, It Stays With Him. We have continued that partnership with the Draw the Line project about sexual exploitation and human trafficking." Elliott added, "Our members will continue to help change attitudes about gender-based violence by participating in special events and addressing sexual harassment in classrooms, hallways and workplaces."

OSSTF/FEESO is also a member of the Canadian Labour Congress and is promoting a nation-wide survey conducted in partnership with the University of Western Ontario's Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women and Children. The survey, launching today, will look at the impact of domestic violence on workers and workplaces. Results of the survey will provide made-in-Canada research that will help unions, employers, advocates and governments develop good public policy as well as negotiate workplace supports including paid leave or women's advocates during collective bargaining.

OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.