Vigils held for Burton Winters

People across the province marked the sombre one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Burton Winters in a vigil on Friday night.

Dozens of people braved the bitter winds and frigid temperatures in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to attend a vigil at the arena.

Musicians, singers and drum dancers performed for the room as people remembered Winters, who was only 14 when he died after getting lost on snowmobile outside his hometown of Makkovik.

Jamiee Thomas wrote the song He Walked This Far after hearing about last year's tragedy.

"I hope that it will make people push for more help that we need in Labrador for search and rescue," Thomas said.

She never met Burton Winters, but his story touched her.

There were tears from his mother and step-father, but event organizers were moved, as well.

Roxanne Dyson, one of the event organizers, became emotional as she addressed the attendees.

"We wish you strength as you remember him tonight, and we will always remember that he walked this far," Dyson said.

Remembered in St. John's

Burton Winters was also remembered during a vigil in St. John's.

His grandmother, Charlotte Winters-Fost, held back tears as she spoke to a packed room at the Native Friendship Centre.

"Northern Labrador mourned the loss of one of its most vulnerable: a child. And the world took notice," Winters-Fost said as she addressed the crowd attending the vigil.

"What happened to Burton touched a chord with many people, Labradorians and Newfoundlanders alike. It has been said that Burton is the little boy that brought our province together."

More than a year after the tragedy, people are still organizing events to remember Burton Winters.

Later in February, a group of people will walk more than 200 kilometres from Makkovik to Sheshatshiu in memory of the boy who wouldn't give up.