Montreal parents and students walk in honour of seven-year-old Ukrainian girl killed

Montreal parents and students came together Friday morning to walk to École Jean-Baptiste-Meilleur at 7:45 a.m., to honour the memory of seven-year-old Mariia Legenkovska – the Ukrainian girl who was fatally struck by a motorist on Tuesday.

They are calling on politicians to immediately implement measures to make school zones and corridors safer across the island of Montreal and the province.

“There could be much more done in school zones,” said Caitlin Tranminh, a mother of a young girl, who participated in the walk.

“The streets belong to children. They should be able to go to school safely,” added Mathieu Murphy-Perron, from Vélorution Montréal – organizers of the event, with the support of Piétons Québec.

Children led the way in the march that made its way to the school.

Several members of the municipal administration also took part, including Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

Crossing guards consoling each other on the street, including Daniel Lebrun – who was also greeted with a hug by the mayor.

He said saw Mariia every day, three times a day.

“That’s the worst thing that could happen and it happened,” said Lebrun. “She was so full of life.”

“As a mother, but also as the mayor of this borough and the city of Montreal, it is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect, you know, our families and especially our kids,” said Plante.

The mayor adding that the Ville-Marie borough has now added more safety measures in the area, including an enlarged stop signs and the road will be narrowed to slow down cars. More police will also be present.

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

“This is one school. There are schools across the island that need to be more secure because people should be able to trust that their kids can get to school safely without the cars zipping by them,” added Murphy-Perron.

“The death of Mariia has marked not only the community and the Centre-Sud, but everyone across Montreal. And I think it’s finally time that population is going to say this car fluidity is not the priority. What is the priority is the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.”

The mayor asking drivers to re-evaluate their behaviour.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re late to a meeting. It’s about making sure that pedestrians and the most vulnerable are safe.”

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

Walking through the neighbourhood, they paused for a moment of silence at the intersection where Legenkovska was hit.

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

(CREDIT: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews)

#WATCH: “She was so full of life,” says Daniel Lebrun, crossing guard near a Ville-Marie school, speaking of Maria, the Ukrainian girl who died after being hit by a vehicle. He walked with her three times daily. Mayor Plante consoling him.

READ: https://t.co/MdsZHnCw7w pic.twitter.com/8DQsBfgCil

— Alyssia (@rubertuccinews) December 16, 2022

Events were also be held near several schools, including École St-Gérard (Liège/Lajeunesse), École de la Visitation (Henri-Bourassa/Séguin), École Ste-Gertrude (2 locations), and at the intersection of Bellechasse/Papineau near two schools..