Vigil for child swept away in the Thames River brings hundreds of Londoners together

Bubbles, bright colours and laughter permeated what mightotherwise be a purely solemn occasion at anortheast London school, Wednesday, as members of the local community came together to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of seven-year-old Anna Bielli.

Although the event, attended by hundreds of people wearing pink ribbons and shirts,brokethe mould of what one might expect at a vigil, Anna's mom said her daughter wouldn't want it any other way.

"Pink was her favourite colour. She lovedpeople. All kinds of people of all ages. She wasfull of life, full of joy, full of love deep inside her heart," said Karen Fermill, adding that she believes her daughter would feel at home at the event.

Wednesday's vigil was held at Northbrae Public School where the little girl attended, and roughly 1 kmaway from where Bielli was last seen by her mother before being swept away in the current of the Thames River on Aug. 1.

Fermill's9-1-1call prompted an extensive multi-day search that involved hundreds of first responders and search specialists from multiple regions who would locate the girl three days later near Western University.

Many of the first responders who scoured the riverbanks, dove underwater, watched from above and rowed along the river were at the vigil. Theyincluded members of both the London, and Huron and area search-and-rescue teams, London police and firefighters.

Representing them were Police Chief Thai Truong, and Gary Bridge, a London Fire Department assistant deputy chief, both of whom spoke to offer their support. Other officials, including Mayor Josh Morgan, who spoke to the crowd as well,were present.

"Although I didn't know Anna, there are a couple of things that I do know. One is how our community comes together and supports each other through incredibly tragic and difficult situations," Morgan said.

"[The vigil's attendees]show the true character of what our community is. You show the best of London when you pull together to support those who need your support in times that are the most difficult that they will ever face in their entire lives."

Morgan also commended first responders, many of which sacrificed sleep, time off, and their own safety to find the girl.

The community's support was made very clear by the hundreds of Londoners from Fermill's church, the Northbrae Public School community, and strangers who came with candles, bubble wandsand her daughter's favourite colours.

"I'm really deeply thankful to them. From the bottom of my heart," said Fermill. "I'm not yet OK, but I'm trying to be because I still have two [children] depending on me."

"Even though every night I'm still crying and I can feel my daughter like the coldness in the morning, I'm trying to keep my faith and hold on to hope that someday we'll meet again."