Burkina Faso attacks: 6 Quebecers killed were on humanitarian trip

Six Quebecers, including a family of four,were having a last meal togetherbefore they were killedduring a 12-hour siege FridayinBurkina Faso's capital city.

GladysChamberlandandher spouseYves Carrier, 65, along with their childrenCharles-lie and Maude, died when fourjihadistattackers linked toal-Qaedastormed the Splendid Hotel and nearby CappuccinoCaf in Ouagadougou.

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Louis Chabot and Suzanne Bernier accompanied the family on a humanitarian mission and were also killed during the attacks.

The family fromLac-Beauport, Que., left for Africa at the end of December on behalf of the Congrgationdessursde Notre-Dame du Perptuel Secours, a religious congregation based in nine different countries.

According to Rose-Anne Rousseau, member of a QuebecCity religious community that helped co-ordinate the trip, the six were in Africa as humanitarian volunteers, and had spent much of their time therehelping to paint and repair a school.

Rousseau said the majority of the group had been in Africa since just before Christmas, and three of the six were expected to fly out the evening of the attacks.

"They had come back to pack theirbags, and were having one last dinner before going to the airport," she said.

A community in mourning: 'It's not fair'

"There are many students in Quebec who are mourning today," said LouiseGodin, a retired principal at Jean-de-Brbeufwhere Yves Carrier was vice-principal and LouisChabotwas a teacher.

Five of the six victims were active or retired teachers.

"It saddens me because Yves is such a generous person,it's not fair,"Godinsaid of Carrier.

"Out of his generosity he did humanitarian work and he loses his life? It's infinitely sad," Godin added.

Jean-de-Brbeufand Cardinal Roy secondary schools in the Quebec City area have both decidedto cancel classes on Monday and will remain open for students who need support.

A school board in Quebec City said four of the six victims were current or retired teachers in the Quebec City area.

"The commissionscholairede laCapitalelearned with dismay of the death of two members of our teaching staff as well as two retired principals in the attacks Friday in Burkina Faso," it wroteon itsFacebookpage.

A music program for Jean-de-Brbeuf, a Quebec City-area school, where three of the victimes worked, also issued a statement.

"Colleagues and friends, we have all been blessed to know them. They will always be some of the kindest, most authentic and generous people we have known," the Musique Brbeuf program wrote on its Facebookpage.

The victims' families issued a statement asking for privacy as they mourned the death of their loved ones

A 'kind soul'

Le Saisonnier, an outdoor centre where Charles-lieCarrier was a camp guide, took to Facebook to pay their respectsto their colleague.

"He was the ultimate redhead," the affectionate post read.Aguide who changed the lives of many young people and a kind soul, especially in his last mission."

'The most beautiful person I ever met'

Karine Paquet, who has been friends with MaudeCarrier since high school, said her close friend seemed emotional over the phone the night before she left for Africa.

"It was painful for her to leave her two little daughters to go there, but at the same time she knew she would live an extraordinary experience," she said.

Paquet said volunteering for a humanitarian mission was in keeping with her friend's generous personality and love of helping others.

"She knew how to welcome people, she was respectful and loving the most beautiful person I ever met."

'It's unbearable'

Louise Brunet, the mayor ofLac-Beauport, told CBC News that it was a great loss for the community, and the family was generous.

It's not acceptable it's unbearable," said Brunet.

"It's people in your community here in Quebec,it's really difficult to accept."

Charles-PhilippeDrolet, a neighbour of the family, told Radio-Canada he is shocked.

"Ahumanitarian trip isn't supposed to end like this," saidDrolet.

'Unspeakable and tragic loss'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauspoke Sunday about the attack that began late Friday and ended Saturday.

"Yesterday we got terrible news of violent terrorism in Burkina Faso where six Canadian people were killed," said Trudeau,who was visiting a mosque inPeterborough, Ont.

"In solidarity with their families that are suffering an unspeakable and tragic loss, I ask you to join me in a moment of silence and reflection."

Trudeau led a moment of silence at the reopenedMasjid al-Salaam mosque tohonourthe victims.

Astatement released by Foreign Affairs Minister Stphane Dion identified the Canadians as "aid workers and volunteers."

Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose condemned the attacks, offered condolences to the victims' families and said what happened in Burkina Faso is proof that Canada must be seen to do more in fighting terrorism.

"These ongoing attacks are proof that decisive action is required to confront this threat, including fully supporting our coalition allies and keeping our CF-18s in the fight in Iraq and Syria," Ambrose said in a statement.

3 days of mourning

Burkina Faso began three days of national mourning Sunday and the president said security would be stepped up in the capital and the country's borders.

In a message to the nation, President Roch Marc Christian Kabor said the people of Burkina Faso must unite in the fight againstterrorism.

He also announced on the national broadcaster, Burkina 24, that security forces would stepup their efforts tothwart future attacks and asked people to comply with the new restrictions.

"These truly barbaric criminal acts carried out against innocent people, claimed by the criminal organization al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), seek to destabilize our country and its republican institutions, and to undermine efforts to build a democratic, quiet and prosperous nation," said Kabor.