One year later: Anniversary of mosque attack marked by events, vigils across Canada - Action News
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One year later: Anniversary of mosque attack marked by events, vigils across Canada

"These people died of bullet wounds, but also of ignorance and hatred," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Ottawa, before heading to Quebec City to mark the violent deaths of six Muslim men one year ago while they worshipped at their mosque. Other vigils are taking place across Canada.

'These people died of bullet wounds, but also of ignorance and hatred': Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

cole Notre-Dame-de-Foy is steps away from the mosque where the shooting happened last year. Monday morning, students shared their messages of hope and peace in the school's windows. (Julia Caron/CBC)

Before heading to Quebec City to join a vigil Monday evening tomarkthe anniversary of the mosque shooting,Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a statementin the House of Commons.

"These people died of bullet wounds, but also of ignorance and hatred," he said.

Trudeau called on Canadians to condemnacts of racismandto take a stand againstIslamophobia and discrimination in all its forms.

"We must ask ourselves, have we done right by the men who lost their lives a year ago today?"

On Jan. 29, 2017, a man walked into the Quebec City mosque and shot at worshipperswho had just finished their evening prayers, killing six men and critically injuring five others. Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, is to go on trial on six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder at the end of March.

Events start in nearby school

One year ago, students at thecoleNotre-Dame-de-Foyin the Quebec City suburb of Sainte-Foyfoundanad hoc memorial in front of their school on the morning afterthe shooting the school is just steps away from the scene of the attack.

Fittingly, on Monday, students sharedmessages of peace,scribbled on pieces of paper andstuck to the windows.

Fourth-grader Eunice Monnetsaid the message made her think it was possible to affect othersthroughsimple actions.

"If we write these messages, maybe we can touch people's lives," Monnet said.

Schools elsewhere in Quebec City highlightedthe anniversary withsongs and books of messages shared with the mosque's congregation.

Montreal commemorates victims at City Hall

Earlier Monday, Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante attended a ceremony to commemoratethe victims atCity Hall.

Plante, Benoit Dorais,chairof the city's executive committee, speaker Cathy Wongand Lionel Perez, leader of the opposition, all read passages from The Prophet, a book ofpoems byKhalilGibran.

Representatives from the NationalCouncilofCanadianMuslims and from different religious faiths joined the politicians and members of the public in attendance in a moment of silence.

Mayor Valrie Plante, official opposition leader Lionel Perez and other elected officials observed a moment of silence Monday. (Sean Henry/CBC)

Elsewhere in Montreal, several vigils took place, many outside Metro stations.

In the Villerayneighbourhood, citizens gathered outside Jean-Talon Metro station.

Outside Quebec

Elsewhere in Canada, similar vigils are taking place.

At Ottawa City Hall,the pictures and names of the dead were displayed. A vigil with speeches also took place at Ottawa'sHuman Rights Monument on Elgin Street.

The vigil was to befollowed by a screening ofYour Last Walk in the Mosque, a documentary about the attack and its aftermath.

Online, an artisticrendering of the victims spread across the country,along with the hashtag #RememberJan29and the slogan "rest in power."

It was created bythe Council of Canadians and two animators.

In Victoria, B.C., the provincial parliament building will belit up in green to honour the shooting victims.


This story is part ofCBC'sin-depth look at the aftermath of the shooting at the mosque in Quebec City one year ago.CBCwill also have special coverage of thecommemorative eventsonMonday, Jan. 29, including live radio, TV and online broadcasts.

With files from Julia Caron and Angelica Montgomery