More than 150 people gathered at a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night for five victims of a weekend shooting rampage at a condominium north of Toronto.
Rita Camilleri, Vittorio Panza, Russell Manock, Helen Manock, and Naveed Dada were killed, and one woman, Doreen Di Nino, was seriously injured on Sunday night when a 73-year-old gunman opened fire at the Vaughan, Ont., building, before he was shot dead by police.
The vigil took place at the courtyard outside Vaughan City Hall, where community leaders spoke, including Mayor Steven Del Duca and Pastor Jason Cleugh from Maple Community Church.
“Please remember, you are the light of your loved one,” Cleugh said, addressing the families.
“Please let your light shine and their memory will live through you. Speak wonderful things of them at this Christmas season. This holiday season, remember them, be thankful for them. We are thankful they are part of our community.”
Family members joined friends of those who died and shocked community members to honour the memories of their loved ones at the vigil. Those in attendance held candles and flowers to pay their respects.
Del Duca said the community was still in a “state of disbelief” about the killings and that there remain more questions than answers. He read out the names of those killed and moment of silence was held as those present paid their respects.
“I have to be honest. I’m not sure that anyone of us has the words that could adequately convey exactly how devastated and heartbroken we are as a community for all of you, for your loss,” Del Duca said.
‘A time to grieve’
“I have no doubt that we will come together as a community, that we will be there for one another, and there in particular for the family and friends of the victims over the coming days. And that together we will find a way as a community to heal when the time is right,” he said.
“But this is not yet a time for healing. This is a time to grieve.”
Del Duca said flags at city facilities will remain at lowered until further notice to honour the victims.
Ontario Education Stephen Lecce, whose family lived in the building at one point, also attended the vigil.
“This Christmas, while I’m sitting down, while we are sitting down with our loved ones, we’ve got to think about those that just don’t have them at the table any longer,” Lecce told CBC Toronto.
York Regional Police have said the gunman was in a lengthy dispute with his condo board before he killed three board members and two of their partners.
Di Nino’s husband has identified her as the lone survivor of the shooting and says she is resting in hospital after emergency surgery.
Police Chief Jim MacSween told the vigil that the police are “doing their best” to provide support to the victims’ families and their friends.
“These are real people. These are human beings that we’ve lost,” he said. “When we talk about victims from time to time, they’re not numbers. They have families who are grieving.”
Some compelled to attend not knowing victims
Lucy Derasmo, holding a candle, said she was good friends with Camilleri and Panza. When she heard the news of the shooting she texted several people she knows who live in that condo complex, but Camilleri was the only one who didn’t respond.
“Rita was a very outgoing, very generous, very sweet, soft-spoken woman — a really compassionate soul,” Derasmo said.
“She took really good care of Vittorio. They had a really good love connection and loved dancing, loved parties like fundraisers, dinner dances. We were just at a dinner dance about three weeks ago together.”
Other attendees, such as Danny Montesano, didn’t know anyone involved, but still felt compelled to attend the vigil.
“I just came to give whatever I can do to help out to support families,” he said. “I was so shocked … I don’t believe this.”
Carm Aizburua said she has lived in the building for two years and knew three or four of the victims.
She said she attended the vigil to support the families.
“It is just very sad,” Aizburua said, holding a candle. “I am shocked, very shocked, and then scared, and then now still shocked and sad.”
“My heart goes out to all the families. We are all human beings, and you know, we are all suffering. I just want to support the families.”
