Content Warning: The following recount includes graphic details and may be distressing to some readers.

In the chilling winter of December 6, 1989, Harold Rosenberg, a seasoned crime scene photographer, encountered one of the most horrifying days of his three-decade career— the Polytechnique massacre in Montreal. His experience that day, laden with emotional weight, serves as a stark reminder of the profound impact of violence on society.

In an interview with CTV Quebec Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin, Rosenberg vividly recalled the sequence of events that led him to the scene of the tragedy. "I was working the evening shift when I heard a brief news update about an incident at the École Polytechnique," he recalled. "I assumed it might involve a hostage situation. With my police radio and unmarked car, I raced to the scene."

Upon arrival, he noted the ominous atmosphere, enhanced by light snowfall against the backdrop of a scene teeming with police vehicles and a distressed crowd. "I was directed to a room filled with homicide detectives and officers from various units—people I recognized from my work in law enforcement," he recounted. His heart sank when he learned of the deaths: "I asked a detective what was happening, and he simply said, 'There are fourteen people dead.' I was shocked. It was unimaginable."

Rosenberg's assignment was to document the aftermath. "Initially, my task was to photograph the escape routes used by victims fleeing from the shooter. It was critical to gather evidence from the places where people had left traces of their fear and pain," he explained. But this was only the beginning of his challenging role that fateful day.

During the chaos, Rosenberg was asked to take video footage—a task he was not accustomed to. He recalled how he was lent a camera from a coroner's car and began documenting the haunting images of classrooms, a cafeteria, and the office area. "I just focused on capturing the scene, not realizing the gravity of what I was recording. I didn’t distinguish if the victims were male or female until later."

The realization hit hard when they discovered a note on the gunman. "I had documented the scene and was exiting when they found it. The note revealed a manifesto filled with hatred towards feminists. The shooter laid bare his twisted rationale and a list of other women he longed to target," Rosenberg disclosed. The note dramatically shifted the narrative around the incident from a random act of violence to a calculated attack fueled by misogyny.

The emotional toll on emergency responders and witnesses cannot be understated. Rosenberg reflected on the lasting scars left by that day: "It stays with you. It’s a shadow that lingers in your mind. You never forget the faces, the sounds, the commotion. It was devastating, and it reshaped how I viewed violence and its consequences on our society."

As we approach the anniversary of this horrific event, it is imperative to remember the lives lost and the ongoing fight against gender-based violence. The Polytechnique massacre isn't just a chapter in history; it remains a call to action, emphasizing the importance of awareness and activism against misogyny and violence towards women. Rosenberg’s haunting testimony reminds us that the echoes of such tragedies stay with us, urging society to confront the issues of hatred and violence head-on.

**Join us in remembrance, and let us strive for a world free from such senseless brutality.**