Hundreds attend Quebec City vigil on Grand Parade in Halifax

HALIFAX – Nearly 1,000 people lined Grand Parade in Halifax Monday night to show support for the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting at a mosque outside Quebec City and the larger Muslim community at large.

The candlelit vigil, organized by Mayor Mike Savage’s office and attended by several city councillors and provincial MLAs, featured speakers from Halifax’s Muslim community who were overwhelmed by the attendance in the crowd.

The most passionate speech of the night came from Hossein Mousavi, speaking on behalf of the Al-Rasoul Islamic Society, who heaped praise on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for spreading the “welcome to Canada message,” letting those around the world escape “prosecution, terror and war.”

“Canada will welcome you, regardless of your faith, diversity is our strength,” he said.

He said the entire community was “shocked and in grief” over the loss of those in Sainte-Foy, Que. but reminded the crowd “words and gestures matter.”

“Hate words can ignite violence, but Canadians say no to violence and no to hate speech,” Mousavi said, before asking each person to shake hands with the person next to them and tell them they loved them.

“We are here as Canadian brothers and sisters, and as business people, as students, people of all faiths and government officials, all together to make it clear that we are against such a cruel act,” he said, adding Sunday’s shooting was the most heinous crime he had seen in his 37 years in Canada.

He noted as immigration had become tighter in the United States over the last few days, “as per true Canadian values, our Prime Minister offer help to refugees regardless of race or religion with open arms.”

“This is the Canadian brotherhood…I as a Muslim love this country more than my country, it has given me everything,” he continued. “But best of all this country gives us peace, peace, peace.”

“Canada means peace, Canada means salaam, Canada means hello,” Mousavi said.

Other members of the Muslim Community also addressed the crowd, while Mayor Mike Savage, his voice sometimes breaking, led a moment of silence and short musical tribute as he said it was “not a night for speeches.”

“When I came to the office and spoke to my colleagues, council and staff, nobody really knows what to do, but I thought we should give people a chance to be together…a chance to light a candle and let people know we will not be defeated by these kind of acts,” Savage said.

He said Halifax “stands with the people of Quebec, with the people of that mosque, all of our community, our Muslim community and everyone else.”

Immigration Minister Lena Diab extended “our deepest sympathies” to Sainte-Foy on behalf of the Premier and all Nova Scotians, noting the country’s “diversity is our strength,” as she condemned the attack on the place of worship.

“As Canadians we must be vigilant in fighting against hatred and darkest impulses,” she said. “We will not close our hearts but open them to all…we all stand united.”