A new vigil in honor of the two four-year-old toddlers who died after a bus ran into their daycare was emotional Thursday evening, in front of the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church.
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Several citizens still in shock braved the thick snow that was falling to make an appearance.
Just before the vigil organized by Ville de Laval, Judith Cost came with her two elementary-aged children.
“I have a friend who doesn’t live far away, it affected her children’s school, so it’s sure to affect us. My children were baptized here [à l’Église Sainte-Rose-de-Lima]“, recounted the 45-year-old Lavalloise, who found it difficult to explain the gravity of the events to her children.
A little after 6:30 p.m., at least a hundred people had gathered on the forecourt of the establishment.
sadly historical
Not far from the sidewalk, Vicky Lock, who works in a private daycare service in Saint-Jérôme, admitted to being upset, like her colleagues, by the tragedy.
“We are devastated to even be able to imagine that this act towards young children can exist,” she told the Journal, after social workers sensitized her family for help resources.
“This is a sadly historic moment. I hope that the government will take this situation as an example, because [la personne] who caused this committed an unacceptable act,” added Danny Greco, Ms. Lock’s spouse.
Solidarity
Within minutes, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, joined the event. The mayor of Laval Stéphane Boyer was also at his side.
“Obviously, we would have preferred that this gesture not happen, but I am delighted in the solidarity that we can see here this evening”, declared Mr. Boyer in front of the journalists.
The family of at least one victim gathered in the church, giving right to heartbreaking scenes, while a good part of the crowd had left the scene.
through well-felt hugs, many of them burst into tears, still inconsolable, noted The newspaper.
“When there are no answers, a drama like that, what are we left with? All that remains is for us to turn to the Lord, and say hello, what is going on?”, asserted the parish priest of the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church, Michel Bouchard, who baptized the boy who died Wednesday morning.
Mobilization
Throughout the day, families passed through the doors of the church in support of loved ones struck by the tragedy.
Several dozen stuffed animals and flowers were piled up in front of the altar. It is possible that these donations will be offered to bereaved people or redistributed to a more fragile population with the help of an organization.
Parents and children came: one of the gifts left by a visitor was signed by Laury-Rose, 4, from Verchères, in Montérégie.
A little further on, another note read “Rest in peace, little angels”.