‘We will never forget’: Mass, vigil to honour victims of Amqui truck attack

Residents of Amqui gathered at the Saint-Benoit-Joseph-Labre church on Friday evening for a special mass held in honour of the victims of the truck attack this week.

The mass, which was livestreamed online, was led by Denis Grondin, the Archbishop of Rimouski.

“Gathering together is a bit of the first reflex that has manifested itself, the desire not to be isolated this week,” Grondin told attendees. “Solidarity prevents us from sinking into a darkness that we feel in different forms and which sometimes wants to take up all the space: the darkness of doubt, worry and fear even of taking a walk.”

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The mayor of Amqui, Sylvie Blanchette, welcomed the presence of several dignitaries at the ceremony.

She also underlined the importance of a strong community and thanked all those who had assisted the injured during the event.

“We are all here to give hope to those who need it,” she said.

“We will continue to flourish, laugh and live despite this sad event. We will never forget March 13, 2023, but we will always be one big family.”

After the mass, citizens were planning to attend a candlelight vigil at the Pierre-et-Maurice-Gagné Park. Organizers with the Amqui municipality intended to create a human chain to stand in solidarity with those impacted by the tragedy.

Church volunteer Daniel Theriault places a plush toy on the steps of the church, Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Amqui, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

On Monday, a man drove a truck down one of Amqui’s main streets and allegedly hit several groups of pedestrians in what police have described as an intentional act.

Gerald Charest, 65, and Jean Lafreniere, 73, died in the crash. . Several other people were also injured.

The suspect appeared last Tuesday to be charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death.

Quebec Premier François Legault and opposition party leaders visited the small town to show their support on Thursday. Some 200 people gathered outside the municipality’s church on Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil.

Amqui is about 700 kilometres east of Montreal.