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Dozens of people turned out for a candlelight vigil in Penticton to remember the four people killed in a public shooting on Monday afternoon.
The event was held on Wednesday evening in Gyro Park – just a short distance from where the first shots were fired — in hopes of initiating the healing process for grieving residents.
Attendees held their illuminated candles high in the sky for a moment of silence, followed by the exchanging of hugs and words of comfort.
Despite the tragedy that struck the South Okanagan city just three short days ago, residents are already rallying to show support to the affected families and show that they are stronger than ever.
Speaking from the stage at Gyro Park, RCMP Supt. Ted De Jager said he wanted to assure the families and friends of the victims that support is available to them.
“I’m very proud of this community,” he said. “The way it rallied.”
He added: “I said there was darkness here but there’s also brightness in a community that can stand behind the victims and the families of those victims.”
Also present was Matthew Baran, the director of the Okanagan Friendship Centre, who said Penticton has a “very strong community”.
He said the city was full of “really tightly woven relationships”.
“It manifests in lots of different ways, and one of those ways is in gatherings,” he added. “This is a community that’s used to being together. We like to be together.”
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