toronto vigil (Photo courtesy Twitter.com/via PCPapadopoulos)

Just over one month after the tragic van attack that left 10 people dead and 16 injured, Torontonians gathered at Olive Square on Yonge Street.

For the past month, people have visited that emotional spot to add to its makeshift memorial. On Sunday people visited to dismantle it.

A permanent tribute will take its place.

The public is also invited to submit memories of April 23 online. They will go towards a public archive (along with the written tributes from the makeshift memorial).

For now, temporary plaques will commemorate the site.
Part of the plaques' inscription reads: "The pain this attack caused will be slow to heal, but the response of love in the midst of tragedy will always be remembered. Our cries of sorrow are slowly being transformed into a song of healing."

Each victim of the van attack was also honoured in Sunday's ceremony, as each of their names were read aloud in this order, before a moment of silence:

  • Andrea Bradden, 33, of Woodbridge

  • Anne Marie D'Amico, 30, of Toronto

  • Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Forsyth, 94, of Toronto

  • Chul Min (Eddie) Kang, 45, of Toronto

  • Dorothy Sewell, 80, of Toronto

  • Geraldine Brady, 83, of Toronto

  • Ji Hun Kim, 22, of Toronto

  • Munir Abdo Habib Najjar, 85, of Toronto

  • Beutis Renuka Amarasingha, 45, of Toronto

  • Sohe Chung, 22, of Toronto

Prior to the dismantling of the memorial, Toronto Mayor John Tory praised the outpouring of love from passersby who quickly jumped into action to help victims on that gruesome day.

The accused, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder. His case has been put over until September.

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