Drama in Laval | Justin Trudeau takes part in a vigil in memory of the victims

“Parents across the country last night hugged their children a little tighter,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in front of the small crowd gathered in memory of the victims and in support of those affected by the tragedy. On Wednesday, a bus driver crashed into a daycare centre, killing two and injuring several, all young children.

During the day, lanterns, stuffed animals and bouquets of flowers accumulated on the forecourt of the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church, in the north of Laval. In a show of solidarity, despite the incessant snow, the community gathered Thursday evening. Dozens of people, and many children, took the time to come to their support in the face of the drama that took place in their small town the day before.

Le premier ministre du Canada Justin Trudeau est arrivé au milieu de la soirée, en compagnie notamment du maire de Laval, Stéphane Boyer. Ils ont traversé la foule, s’arrêtant pour parler à des citoyens, avant de se recueillir devant les lampions allumés.

« Je ne peux imaginer ce que les familles sont en train de vivre ce soir », a poursuivi le premier ministre. « Les premiers répondants ont été extraordinaires […] and we are happy to see that Laval residents are there for each other tonight. Everyone wants and will give to each other in the days and months to come. »

“I am delighted in the solidarity that we can see here this evening, also underlined Stéphane Boyer. Among us there are heroes here tonight, there are families, there are people who came to the scene quickly to help. I have a very special thought for the employees of the various emergency services who have lent a hand and who are also going through traumatic times. On behalf of Laval, thank you. »

The City of Laval will be there, said Mr. Boyer, to support those who need it in the days, months and years to come.

A supportive community

In the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church, many bouquets and doggies have accumulated in front of the altar. Tamara Depas came with her spouse and two children. “It’s extremely close to home,” she explains. I am speechless, I cry nonstop, our sadness is immense. Her son Liam, the same age as the victims, goes to another daycare. The two children chose their own stuffed animals to leave in memory of the victims.

A little further, Myriam Lausterer, herself an educator in another daycare center in the neighborhood, drops off a craft made by the children on Thursday. How does she feel? “Phew, I’m fine…let’s say today was a cuddly day with friends. »

In the crowd outside the church, Françoise Pêtre and Jean-Claude Varin take shelter from the snow under a large umbrella. The couple have lived in Sainte-Rose for 27 years. They describe a “tightly knit” community. “We are only going to get up together, believes M^me Pete. There are no words, we just have to stand together, ”she adds, touched by the number of people who came Thursday evening.

Affected, near or far

In the crowd, tears echo, mingled with the cries of children playing in the snow. “It shows the solidarity of the city, it’s a great mutual aid,” observes Steve Macduff, supervisor of the Urgence-Santé corpus. A little further, firefighters in uniform moved for the rally. One by one, they come forward to lay a wreath of flowers.

“It’s horrible, we are there to support them as educators too, explains Kimberley Camey in the company of several of her colleagues. The educators came from Chomedey, another sector of Laval, with a sign created by the little hands of the children they accompany on a daily basis. Many parents chose not to send their children to daycare on Thursday, she explains. “For the other friends, they were really happy and proud to be able to help”, adds M^me Camey.