Mosque shooting remembrance vigil forced online
Posted January 28, 2022 6:32 pm.
A vigil to mark the fifth anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting, and the first official National Day of Remembrance for the victims, has been cancelled and will be replaced by a virtual event.
Organizers were forced to cancel the inter-faith candlelight vigil, at the Human Rights Monument next to Ottawa City Hall, because of the weekend convoy protest.
“We were just advised only a short while ago by city hall that all of the buildings around city hall, and the adjacent spaces, will be locked down, which means that we can no longer hold a live event, tomorrow, ” said Fareed Khan, founder of Canadians United Against Hate. “So, we’re quickly trying to pivot to a virtual event.”
Representatives of the Christian and Jewish communities were set to join with Canadian Muslims at the in-person ceremony. Khan said details of the virtual event were still being finalized, Friday afternoon, but would be shared widely on social media once confirmed.
A gunman entered a Quebec City mosque during evening prayers on January 29, 2017, and killed six men while they were worshipping. This year’s anniversary is the first National Day of Remembrance for the victims, as well as the first National Day of Action Against Islamophobia. The federal government made both official in a proclamation, last April.
