Memorial held for slain N.S. teacher

About 150 people gathered near Halifax on Saturday to mark what would have been the 40th birthday of Paula Gallant, who was killed nearly four years ago.

Relatives, friends and supporters hung 40 Christmas wreaths on telephone poles throughout Timberlea.

Gallant, a Grade 3 teacher at Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea elementary school, was found dead in the trunk of her car in the school parking loton Dec. 28, 2005. No charges have been laid.

Her sisters decided to hold the memorial service on Saturday, rather than the pending anniversary of her death, so it would coincide with 20th anniversary ceremonies for the victims of the Montreal Massacre, as part of a wider movement to end violence against women.

"You know Paula was a young, vibrant 36-year-old woman who was in the prime of her life and her life was violently taken at the hands of a murderer," said Lynn Gallant.

"And obviously, Dec. 6, which is the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women, is obviously very important for that, but it's also an important day to honour every other woman who's lost their lives violently."

Sunday marks 20 years since Marc Lepine shot and killed 14 female engineering students at cole Polytechnique.

Memorial ceremonies for the victims of the Montreal Massacre will be held across the Maritimes on Sunday.