December 06

After mistakenly identifying Cuba as part of Asia, Columbus continued his 1492 voyage westward. On December 6, 1492, he sighted and landed on an island he named Hispaniola, believing he had found a new eastern territory. He sought gold and reported rich soils and resources to the Spanish crown. The island would become the first permanent European settlement in the New World. This discovery marked a pivotal moment in the Age of Exploration and the beginning of Spanish colonization in the Americas. Columbus’ landing laid the foundations for dramatic cultural, economic, and ecological changes in the hemisphere.

On December 6, 1989, Marc Lépine stormed the École Polytechnique in Montreal, targeted female engineering students, and murdered 14 women before taking his own life. His actions, driven by hatred of feminists, shook Canada and sparked nationwide debates on gender violence, gun control, and women’s rights. The massacre led to the creation of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. It remains one of Canada's most harrowing crimes and a catalyst for social and legislative change.