A candlelight vigil is planned for tomorrow night outside the Machine Shop to mourn the victims of this week’s murder-suicide — as well as other local residents who have tragically died over the past two months.

The vigil was announced in a press release issued by Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano.

Below is his full statement:

Over the last several weeks Sault Ste. Marie has experienced a tremendous amount of grief. Motor vehicle collisions on Sept. 5 and 6 caused two people to lose their lives. On Sept. 7 we learned of a horrific murder of a member of our community and serious injuries to another as a result of two random acts of violence.  

While still processing all of this loss, we received news of unimaginable tragedies that occurred on the evening of Oct. 23, 2023. There are no words to describe the incredible sense of sorrow and pain felt right now. It is heart wrenching to process these incomprehensible acts of violence. As a community, we weep.  

I want to extend my deepest sympathies to all of the families, friends and loved ones of the victims and all of our first responders and members of our community who are suffering. Our entire community is thinking of you.   

Now, more than ever, we must find a way to stand in solidarity to support one another during this profoundly challenging time. I believe that the resilience of our community will guide us on our path of healing and I believe we are all trying to find a way to show our collective support to all those who are suffering. 

With this in mind, I want to invite you all to a Community Candlelight Vigil to be held on Friday evening, outdoors in the courtyard at the Machine Shop. 

As we mourn these tragic losses, let us extend our shared compassion and support to the grieving families. The path towards healing is a collective journey. Let us embark upon it together as a community. 

The details of the vigil are as follows: 

Date: Friday, Oct. 27, 2023
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Outdoors in the Courtyard at the Machine Shop, 83 Huron St, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. P6A 5P4 

The Community Candlelight Vigil will include messages from community leaders and a moment of silence. Attendees are encouraged to bring candles, lighters or use cell phones as a form of light. 

Archbishop Anne Germond has reached out to religious leaders in Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of Mr. Romano, encouraging participation in the candlelight vigil.  She is returning early from the National House of Bishops meeting in Niagara Falls to be with the community tomorrow evening.  In an e-mail communique she shares the following:

Many of us have been wondering whether there is a way for us to come together as a community to stand shoulder to shoulder to weep and to hold the loved ones of those who have died in our thoughts and in our prayers. And to remind our children that we will do everything in our power to protect them and love them as they grow in our community which is a good and healthy place to be.

We are keenly aware of the wider context in our world with the war in the Middle East and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

These are unsettled times and now more than ever we need to gather as a community – as ONE, diverse though we are in every way.