A 'strong, independent leader': Hundreds remember Danielle Moore in Toronto

Singing, embracing and laying flowers, around 250 peoplegathered by the lake shore inTorontoon Thursday evening to rememberDanielle Moore, a much-loved 24-year-old who was among the 18 Canadians killed in Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines crash.

"She is really an angel," said Moore's mother, addressing the crowd.

People lay white and yellow flowers to signify grief and friendship, and sang "Let It Be"a tribute to Moore's love of singing.

Toronto's event wasone ofat least 14 similar rituals planned around Canada, plus others inMexico, Australia, New Zealand and Zambia.

"It just goes to show how amazing my sister was," said David Moore, Danielle's younger brother.

"Every community that she went to,people would gather around her and she would give back so much."

Moore, an environmental and human rights activist, was on her way to aUN Environment Assembly in Kenya when the flight went down.A total of 157 people from 35 countries died when a Boeing 737 Max 8 plane bound for Nairobi crashed shortly after takeofffrom the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

Moore was a "strong, independent leader that took no BS from anyone," said David with a smile.

"She lived her own life, always looking out for the little guy...andalways looking out for these big things: Indigenous rights, the environment, climate change."

Originally from Toronto, Moore wasliving in Winnipeg and hadstudied Marine Biology at Dalhousie University.

"You can tell she has made a difference, a significant difference in this world," said David Moore, who called Danielle "a doer."

People around the world stepped up to arrange the events on Thursday,said one of the organizers,OliviaBochenek areflection of Moore's impact and "how loved she really was."

"Danielle Moore was one of the most incredible people many of us have ever met," said the eventpage on Facebook.

As his older sister, Danielle washis "leader," said David Moore,who was always followingin her footsteps.

In the last couple of days, "I've sort of been at a loss, not really knowing what to do,"he said."Danielle would have been the perfect person" to ask how to deal with this.

Remembering Moore by the water

TheToronto ceremony was by the waterfront atInukshuk Park on Thursday evening.

All of Thursday'sceremonies were set to be bybodies of water, Bocheneksaid, because of Moore's strong connection with water andthe ocean.

"She was a marine biology student," saidBochenek, who becamefriends with Moore when they both lived in Halifax. "So many memories I have with her . . . are by the ocean, or by lakes, or in [the] field doing work by bodies of water."

"She was such a caring person and had such strong beliefs around what kind of world we deserved to live in," said Bochenek, who discussed Moore's passion for combating climate change.

"All her beliefs were followed up by action," she said, whether it be through working with environmental groups, Indigenous youth, students groups, or in the field.

David Moore said they wantto carry on his sister'spassions for theenvironment and Indigenous rights. He's started looking for ways he can make a difference in his owncommunities, Mooresaid.

Danielle'smother, in tears during parts of the ceremony, said shekeeps thinking about her daughter's final few minutes.

She recounted Danielle'svaledictorian speech: '"Youonly live once, and what are you going to do with it? So be free,"' said her mother, whowants Danielle's life and memory to go on.

"We lost so many incredible people [in] that crash," she said, Shewas amazed by how much her daughter had done in her short life."From my daughter to you, I love you all. And thank you so much."

A 'shining light' in the community

Around the world, theevents were set to include a reading of Mary Oliver's poem"When Death Comes" and close with some of Moore's favourite songs.

"Danielle loved to sing and was a beautiful singer," said Bochenek, adding that Moore often sang at parties and open mic nights.

Ty Bryant, who went to Dalhousie's College of Sustainabilitywith Moore, called her a"bright, shining light in the community" and a great friend.

"She was just always an inspiration for me and one of the reasons why Iwantto get more involved in my community and . . .take action in terms of climate change and awareness," said Bryant.

"She was a huge advocate for that."

Building nature-based tributes

Attendees were alsoasked to bring photos, sacred stones and other special items that remind them of the young woman.

Participants werealso set to build a nature-based art tributeto Moore, placing flowers and other natural objectsas they sharespecial memories and thoughts.