Hundreds attend candlelight vigil in Guelph

More than 500 people filled the mosque with many more overflowing into the hallway and adjacent classrooms at the Guelph Muslim Community Centre Monday night for a candlelight vigil in the wake of the tragic shooting in Quebec City.

The Guelph vigil was one of many that took place in communities across Canada.

Muhammed Sayyed, President of Muslim Society of Guelph, was moved by the community support.

“Just in this room we have 500 people and there are more outside right now,” he said. “You have shown that we will not be divided by such a cowardly act of violence.”

He invited Guelph Police Chief Jeff DeRuyter to remind everyone we live in a safe community.

“What happened last night is not the Canada we know or the Guelph we know,” said DeRuyter.  “We look after each other and care for one another. The best thing we can do is offer our friendship. Let’s continue to build bridges and be a strong community.”

People of all faiths were welcome to attend Monday's event.

“I came to show our support,” said Rev. Greg Smith-Young from Elora United Church. “We are stronger as a community when we support each other and any attack on people praying is an attack on all of us who pray.”

Rev. Smith-Young brought two Syrian refugees from his community to the vigil.

Brothers Majd and Fares Alhousarya came to Canada from Syria two months ago and though they were saddened by the attack in Quebec City they said they still feel safe here in Canada.

Six men between the ages of 35 and 70 were killed and 19 people were wounded Sunday when a gunman opened fire during evening prayers at the Centre Cultural Islamique de Quebec.

A 27-year-old Laval University student, Alexandre Bissonette, has been charged with six counts of premeditated murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Many of those who were invited to speak at the vigil recounted their experiences two weeks ago during a Bridging Event at the Delta Hotel organized by the Muslim Society of Guelph

“Part of living in community is laughing with those who laugh and that is what we did two weeks ago,” said Pastor David Tigchelaar from First Christian Reformed Church. “Part of living in community is mourning with those who mourn and that is what we do tonight.”

“I have been to this mosque countless times and this is the first time that so many non-Muslims have sat on this floor,” said former Guelph MP Frank Valeriote. “It is regrettable that it takes incidents like this to make us all realize that we are brothers and sisters of one another regardless of faith and cultural background.”

Junior Imam Mubeen Butt gave an account of the tragic events in Quebec City.

“The sad thing is that the wives and children of those who were murdered watched what happened from the balcony,” he said.  “This is a time of mourning for all of us as Canadians because this goes against our values.”

Steve Dyck, expressed how many people felt.

“I am so sorry that we are meeting here today for such a bad reason,” he said.

“We’re in a troubled world and we need to dig deep and I pray we find peace.”

Jeff White, extended condolences on behalf of the Jewish community of Guelph.

“We have to work together to battle this horrible disease of terrorism and our heart goes out to everyone in the Muslim community,” said White.

Messages of condolence were read on behalf of Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield who was in Ottawa and Mayor Cam Guthrie who was at a city council meeting.

“We will stand against hatred and intolerance together,” said Guthrie. “Let’s take this opportunity to build bridges toward a stronger more welcoming community.”

Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner had some positive words. 

“I think Guelph has a community with a big heart and we see that heart tonight,” he said “People of good will like all of us here tonight have to stand up against the hate whether it comes from the barrel of a gun or the stroke of a pen.”