Calgary stabbing: Students gather at University of Calgary to mourn victims

Hundreds of students gathered at the University of Calgaryto mournfive young people stabbed to death.

Among those at the emotional community gatheringin MacEwanHall Tuesday afternoon were students, staffand Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

• Matthew de Groodcharged in Calgary's 'worst mass murder'
• Calgary stabbings: Reaction pours in after 'senseless tragedy
• Matthew de Grood: Who is the Calgary stabbings suspect?
• Calgary stabbing victims identified

"We're going to make it through this. We're strong. We're strong because we have each other,"Nenshisaid.

Students signed a flag of condolence and speakers urged them to take care of themselves and make use of the resources available, such as the campus Wellness Centre.

"You might feel alone right now, but look at this room. Let's come together as a community,"said student president Raphael Jacob.

University president Elizabeth Cannon told the gatheringthat she has received messages of support from across the country.

I think the key message today is to make sure that you take care of yourself, that you reach out for support, that you take care of those around, because this is a test of our community.

Exams will go aheadnext week, but Cannon says the universitywill consider deferring in some cases.

"Absolutely we will entertain deferred exams for those who need it and we'll look at that in a case-by-case basis, but all the information is up on our website to ensure that those who feelthey need to defer an exam are given the support that they need to help make that happen."

Jordan Fabroattended the memorial because he was close friends with four of the five victims.

My friend group is going through a bit of a tough time right now. I knew I had to come to this today. Some of my friends that are going through this are out of town, in the country, going through finals, going to school right now. I am one of the few that could make it to this memorial for them.

MatthewdeGrood, who attended the university,has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder. Four menand a womandied following the early-morning stabbings in the citysBrentwoodneighbourhood, just north of the campus.

According to neighbours, people at a househad been celebrating the last day of university classes with a fire in thebackyard.

Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD) festivities to mark the end of the University of Calgarys winter semester have been a campus tradition since 1960.

Susan Anderson, editor of the student newspaper the Gauntlet, says there is usually a lot of drinking on BSD, but the day has always been a positive part of universitylife.

Everyone's friends, right. You just invite anyone to your party, you know, it's a strong bonding day for the school but now its been very, very tragically marked, she said.

Josh Hunter and Zackariah Rathwell have been identified as two of the victims. Hunter was a business student at the University of Calgary.Rathwell was a first-year student at ACAD, a Calgaryarts college.

Also killed were Kaitlin Perras, Jordan Segura, and Lawrence Hong.