Prime Minister Justin Trudeau honoured the victims of the Fredericton shooting during a visit to TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Greektown B次元官网网址� the scene of another rampage last month B次元官网网址� to help open a popular street festival.
Trudeau told the crowd to send love and support to those reeling in New BrunswickB次元官网网址檚 capital after two police officers B次元官网网址� Const. Robb Costello and Const. Sara Burns B次元官网网址� and two civilians were killed earlier Friday.
B次元官网网址淭here is a great town a few hours east of here, our friends in Fredericton who are going through a very, very difficult night,B次元官网网址� said Trudeau. B次元官网网址淚f we could all send them our best love and our best support for our fallen officers, who are there protecting us, and the people who died in a terrible tragedy.B次元官网网址�
Trudeau then thanked first responders who aided victims of the mass shooting in Toronto.
The annual B次元官网网址淭aste of the DanforthB次元官网网址� celebrates the popular neighbourhoodB次元官网网址檚 many restaurants and diverse food and drink offerings.
It was on Danforth Avenue that a man opened fire on July 22, killing 18-year-old Reese Fallon and 10-year-old Julianna Kozis, and wounding several others before turning his gun on himself.
It remains unclear what motivated the shooting, but the suspectB次元官网网址檚 parents have said their son suffered from severe mental illness.
The opening of the street festival included a minute of silence and acknowledged the efforts of first responders, as well as the many others who rushed to help the victims.
B次元官网网址淭onight we also remember two extraordinary young women, Reese and Julianna who were out for ice creamB次元官网网址nd got taken from us,B次元官网网址� said Trudeau.B次元官网网址� It was a terrible tragedy that effected us all deeply, we all hugged our loved ones a little closer that night and for the following days.B次元官网网址�
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The prime minister said the opening was a moment to celebrate and remember the victims and to also remember what makes the Danforth great.
B次元官网网址淲e pull together as a community,B次元官网网址� he said, with his eldest son Xavier standing at his side. To TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 left was a patio area with a sign that read B次元官网网址淩eese Fallon died in this square July 22/18. Others shot here, lest we forget! Please think of them in this beer garden.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he resilience that comes from different perspectives, different backgrounds, different cultures and coming together to celebrate the same things, a beautiful summer evening, great flavours, great friendsB次元官网网址�.that is the essence of our country, itB次元官网网址檚 the essence of our values,B次元官网网址� said Trudeau.
First responders and other politicians shared the stage with Trudeau, including Toronto Mayor John Tory and federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
Tattoo shop owner Tanya Wilson was also honoured on stage, as she treated some of the injured in her store after the shooting. Wilson wiped away tears while waving to the crowd.
Singh told the gathering they were there to celebrate, but also to remember a B次元官网网址渢errible tragedy.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hen acts of violence and tragedy strike us, they seek to divide us. They seek to scare us and to move us away,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n response, and in a very Toronto way, weB次元官网网址檝e come back in big numbers.B次元官网网址�
Tory also spoke to the size of the crowd, saying that he was B次元官网网址渉eartbrokenB次元官网网址� the night of the tragedy but was happy to see thousands of people show up in the days after to show support.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e been there ever since and youB次元官网网址檝e been here this weekend, and you will continue to be here because we are not going to let these things push us off the factB次元官网网址hat this is the greatest city in the greatest country in the world in which to live,B次元官网网址� Tory said.
Tina Pandovoulos and her son Peter Pandovoulos both watched the opening ceremony. TheyB次元官网网址檝e lived in the Danforth area for decades and were wearing #DanforthStrong buttons as they stood at the intersection of Logan and Danforth Avenue.
Tina said she had been to Danforth Avenue almost every night since the shooting, and hadnB次元官网网址檛 missed Taste of the Danforth since it began.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 never scared, I love it, and IB次元官网网址檓 going to keep coming,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that seeing politicians from different stripes on stage together to remember the victims gave her a good feeling.
B次元官网网址淭hat makes me cry when I see everybody there on stageB次元官网网址B次元官网网址檓 feeling very proud,B次元官网网址� she said.
Organizers say the weekend B次元官网网址淭aste of the DanforthB次元官网网址� is expected to draw more than a million visitors despite the shooting B次元官网网址� a far cry from the 5,000 who attended the first festival 25 years ago.
Since the festival began in 1993 it has expanded beyond just food to include music, dancing and various other forms of entertainment B次元官网网址� and this yearB次元官网网址檚 will feature a benefit concert for the shooting victims.
Three memorials that include flowers, cards and other items that sprang up in the aftermath of the shooting have been relocated to a nearby site.
Olivia Bowden , The Canadian Press
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