(Amqui) Commemorations are to take place this Wednesday in Amqui, Bas-Saint-Laurent, to mark the first anniversary of the van attack during which a driver deliberately hit eleven pedestrians, leaving three dead and eight injured .
The driver of the van, a local resident in his late thirties, was arrested shortly after the events. He is still detained pending the continuation of the legal proceedings initiated against him.
The mayor of Amqui, Sylvie Blanchette, first asked citizens to respect a minute of silence at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday, at the time when the attack began a year earlier.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Sylvie Blanchette, mayor of Amqui.
The population will then be invited to go to Pierre-et-Maurice-Gagné Park at 6 p.m., located downtown, along the Matapédia River. Some public figures will deliver speeches there, including the member for Matane in the National Assembly, Pascal Bérubé, the member for Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia in the House of Commons, Kristina Michaud, Chantale Lavoie, prefect of the MRC of La Matapédia and Mayor Blanchette.
Around 6:30 p.m., a citizens’ march will take place on the sidewalk of Saint-Benoît Boulevard West where the victims were struck. An hour later, at 7:30 p.m., a mass will be celebrated at the Amqui church.
Gérald Charest, Jean Lafrenière and Simon-Guillaume Bourget lost their lives in this tragedy.