Toronto Locals Are Covering The Sidewalks Near Yesterday's Tragedy In Handwritten Messages To Victims
Local residents and community members have started building a touching memorial for the victims in yesterday's horrific van attack, in which ten were killed and fifteen others injured.
People in the area are adorning the intersection in handwritten letters and messages to those affected. Some have put up large squares of bristol board, and provided markers so others have space to write messages throughout the day.
Last night, candles were lit up in the area, surrounded by flowers and messages to the victims and their families.
Passersby and neighbours leave handwritten messages on a memorial to the victims of the #Toronto van attack. This is at Yonge and Finch where first of the victims were deliberately run down on sidewalks leaving 10 dead and 15 injured. pic.twitter.com/tbOfwoniPe
My mom was so distressed earlier but returned to the memorial hours later to pay her respects. It’s our community where we lived for over 10 years, and we’ve never felt unsafe. #toronto pic.twitter.com/F6OJOKdvRr
"We hope that this will show that Toronto is united, Toronto is strong, Toronto can get over this," one local at the memorial says, "We can get through this but we have to act together." The handmade memorial is set up at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue, where the tragedy took place yesterday at around 1:30 pm.
North York residents set up a memorial in a parkette near Yonge and Finch just steps from where the van attack left 10 people dead and 15 injured. pic.twitter.com/yPMIZ3UNTz
Toronto residents, Canadians, and people across the world are also sharing their condolences and messages on social media, using the hashtag #TorontoStrong. The hashtag #TorontoTheGood is also being used to share bits of kindness spotted around the city, and messages of support and strength.
A father brings his young daughter to the memorial for the victims of the van attack in #Toronto. She placed heart-shaped stickers among the handwritten messages of support. pic.twitter.com/8vm04RWPwX
Growing memorial in Yonge and Finch area of Toronto for victims of today's van attack. (Photos by CBC's Renée Filippone) pic.twitter.com/p7bIBUmk5M
A local community outreach program has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for funeral expenses for the families of the ten victims who were killed. So far, they have raised almost $28,000.
Lyft is also showing their support by providing passengers with a free ride worth up to $15 to travel between the closed subway stations in the area.
Source: CityNews, Global News
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