Support and solidarity continue at Calgary vigil for Orlando shooting

A full ten days after an armed gunman walked into an Orlando gay bar, killing almost 50 people and injuring dozens more, support in Calgary for the victims and the LGBT community remain strong.

Hundreds attended a vigil at the Jack Singer Concert Hall Wednesday evening and for some, the emotions are still on the surface.

Omar Mateen, 29, shot and killed 49 patrons of the Pulse nightclub early in the morning of June 12.

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Chad Koski says so much has been learned about the incident since that time.

"It is just really starting to affect me more than I expected," Koski said.

"I knew about it the day it happened but there is just so much more that we are learning, coming out especially about the perpetrator and the possible reasons why he did it. This is a reason for our community to start coming together more."

'Shakes the foundations of our community'

Carolyn Anderson lives part time in Florida, not far from Pulse nightclub.

She says the shooting seemed to reverse gains made by the LGBT community in recent years.

"To see us come from a place of fear to feeling like we have equality and then to have a tragedy like this, it shakes the foundations of our community."

Anderson was left with mixed emotions.

"Sad and hopeful, in a strange kind of way," she said.

"Hopeful that people have recognized and stood by this community."

Rachel Hamilton and her friend Shannon Mitchell were among those standing by the community at the vigil.

"Tonight we are all coming together to show that despite any differences, we are all human," Hamilton said.

"It was very moving, very touching. The messages of unity and solidarity and support and love were overwhelming."

'World is creating a space for us'

Anderson says out of the horror, maybe there is room for optimism.

"People are commemorating the same thing all over the world, it feels like there is recognition and the world is creating a space for us," she said.

She said it's time to look forward.

"For us to remember that courage and compassion are the way we are going to go forward I like that that is the message coming to our community as opposed to anger and resentment and fighting back," Anderson said.

"I think we have done that a long time and I think that we move forward in a different way now."

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