The Council of Canadians Mid Island chapter attended a vigil on February 2 to mourn the killing of six men at a mosque in Quebec City days earlier.
Prior to the vigil, the Canadian Press reported, “Residents of Nanaimo will gather tonight to honour the victims of the shooting at a Quebec City mosque. Organizers of the event say flowers, sympathy cards and candles have been left at the Islamic Centre of Nanaimo since the Sunday night shooting. The gathering tonight will allow central Island residents to mourn the six victims of the attack and pray for the 17 others who were injured.”
That article added, “The vigil will take place at Diana Krall Plaza in downtown Nanaimo and the multi-faith gathering will include representatives from numerous community groups and organizations, as well as a representative from Nanaimo city council.”
CKNW then reported, “Hundreds of people turned out in Nanaimo this evening to stand in solidarity and mourn the lives in the Quebec City mosque massacre. Organizer Bob Rahiman, who sits on the the board of directors for the Nanaimo Islamic Centre, says he was impressed at the outpouring of support. He says the community gathered at the Diana Krall Plaza and sang songs, read poems and speeches. Rahiman says as a Muslim, hearing about the fatal shooting was devastating.”
And CHEK notes, “Organizers described the evening as an opportunity for Nanaimo community members to come together and pay their respects to the men who lost their lives, and demonstrate commitment to fighting Islamophobia, racism, and violence.”
Following the tragedy in Quebec City, the Montreal chapter attended the funeral for three of those killed at the mosque; the Montreal, South Niagara, Guelph, Centre Wellington, Peterborough-Kawarthas, London and Mid Island chapters attended vigils; the Ottawa, London and PEI chapters have participated in marches against Islamophobia; the Winnipeg chapter has called on their city council to support a sanctuary city designation for their community; the Chilliwack chapter encouraged their contact list to send to their MP e-mails prior to emergency debate on the Safe Third Country agreement; and the North Shore chapter called on Trudeau to oppose Trump’s racist travel ban.
The Council of Canadians supports diversity and inclusion, and rejects racism and Islamophobia.
