Ottawa trucker protest forces vigil for Quebec City mosque shooting victims to move online
Ottawa trucker protest forces vigil for Quebec City mosque shooting victims to move online
A planned vigil in Ottawa to mark the fifth anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting that left six men dead and five others wounded has been moved online due to the large trucker convoy protest on Parliament Hill, organizers say.
The group Canadians United Against Hate had planned to hold an interfaith candlelight vigil at the human rights monument on Elgin Street Saturday evening, but organizers now say they've moved the event online.
"The in-person vigil, organized by Canadians United Against Hate, was cancelled with only 24 hours notice out of concern for the safety of participants and attendees who might face violent demonstrations related to the truckers protest," a media release from the group said. "A virtual event is being organized on very short notice to mark the anniversary, along with the first official National Day of Remembrance for the victims, and the first National Day of Action Against Islamophobia."
The planned vigil in Ottawa will now be hold on Zoom. A link has been shared on the group's Facebook page, organizers said.
On Jan. 29, 2017, a lone gunman shot and killed six worshippers shortly after the end of evening prayers at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre in Ste. Foy, a suburb of the provincial capital. The gunman, Alexandre Bissonnette pleaded guilty in March 2018 to six counts of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder. His murder victims were Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42; Abdelkrim Hassane, 41; Khaled Belkacemi, 60; Aboubaker Thabti, 44; Azzeddine Soufiane, 57; and Ibrahima Barry, 39.
A ceremony will also be held in Quebec City. Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand are expected to attend.
The trucker protest, known as the "Freedom Convoy" is taking over downtown Ottawa to demonstrate against a number of issues, largely COVID-19 public health mandates. Thousands of participants are expected in the city Saturday, and some have said they plan to remain through the weekend and possibly into next week. Organizers have said they plan to demonstrate peacefully, though Ottawa police say they are prepared for the possibility of violence, should it occur.
Police said on Saturday morning that there were no issues Friday when hundreds of people gathered on Parliament Hill ahead of the main demonstration.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW | Russia's invasion of Ukraine a 'turning point' in world history: defence chief
Canada's chief of defence says Russia's invasion of Ukraine is going to change the course of history.

Climate goals may be at odds with G7 response to fallout from Russian invasion
G7 leaders opened their summit Sunday with a discussion about shaping the global economy at a time when conflict and unrest are driving up prices and access to key goods around the world.
Protesters at U.S. Supreme Court decry abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
Hundreds of protesters descended on the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday to denounce the justice's decision to overturn the half-century-old Roe v. Wade precedent that recognized women's constitutional right to abortion.
NEW | Rate of extreme rainfall expected to increase dramatically by 2100
New research looking at the frequency of heavy rainfall across the globe shows that a drastic increase in downpours is expected over the years to come.
From closures to near-normal routines, students look back on COVID-warped school year
The final bell is about to ring at the end of a topsy-turvy school year warped by the COVID-19 crisis and students are reflecting on how the pandemic shaped things.
Live updates: G7 leaders poke fun at Putin's tough image
The latest on the G7 summit: Leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Germany have joked about what would make them look tougher than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Quebec homeowners say Ottawa must address decades of erosion caused by ship traffic
The higher parts of Angelique Beauchemin's land, she said, are sinking an inch or two a year as they slope ever more steeply toward the river. While she's not a scientist, she says her biggest fear is that one day there will be a landslide and the white house at the top of the hill where she's lived for decades will tumble down.
Conservative MPs free to attend 'freedom' protests this summer: Bergen
With the nation's capital bracing for anticipated anti-mandate 'freedom' movement protests during Canada Day weekend, interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen says her MPs are free to attend.
'I landed in a safe haven': Uganda refugees celebrate LGBTQ2S+ community for first time
As Pride festivities kick off around the world, many refugees are celebrating the LGBTQ2S+ community for the first time.