Like the rest of us in Toronto and around the world, I too still am trying to come to terms with Monday’s tragic events. While tragedy may have crippled our City, our bond, compassion and love for Toronto ultimately will prevail through crisis and I saw it in some of the makeshift memorials put together by the Community in Willowdale.
Mourners gathered at Olive Square Park (just south of Yonge x Finch) and at Mel Lastman Square (North York City Centre) with flowers, candles, ornaments and signs as we heal together in what surely will be a long, painful process. Our hearts are with the family, friends and Victims themselves: Ji Hun Kim, So He Chung, Geraldine Brady, Chul Min Kang, Anne Marie D’Amico, Mary Elizabeth Forsyth, Munir Abdo Habib Najjar, Dorothy Sewell, Andrea Bradden and Beutis Renuka Amarasingha.
A piece of my heart always will belong to that strip from Yonge x Finch through Yonge x Sheppard, an area I have frequented since my early 20s whether it be changing buses on my way to the races at Woodbine Racetrack, having a cheap and cheerful, hearty Korean meal, some of the amazing grocers, bakeries and cafés or the good old days doing Karaoke with friends at Twister till the wee hours of the morning. I am saddened that all that happiness now is marred by darkness.
In the event you haven’t caught wind of it, a Vigil in honour of Monday’s victims will be held Sunday, April 29, 2018 at Mel Lastman Square (at North York City Centre station), 7 PM.
See some of the beautiful things Torontonians have done for Toronto in light of this tragedy:
We will make it through this together. #TORONTOSTRONG
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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