Afghanistan memorial vigil in Yellowknife SA国际影视传媒� 2015, anti-racism vigil in Yellowknife SA国际影视传媒� 2017, Sisters in Spirit vigil SA国际影视传媒� 2018, Quebec City mosque shooting vigil SA国际影视传媒� 2018, Christchurch vigil SA国际影视传媒� 2019, vigil for Sri Lanka bombing victims SA国际影视传媒� 2019.
The recent attack in Sri Lanka saw more than 250 people killed in an act of terror and violence by Islamic extremists.
But judging by the response to the attack in Yellowknife, it's clear this community knows no borders or desires the sectarianism that plagues other corners of the world.
Pure love and compassion move the people of this city to gather in support of other communities across the globe who have been victimized by hate.
Nazim Awan, chair of the Islamic Centre here in Yellowknife, said it best at the vigil held last Sunday.
SA国际影视传媒淎ll of us are affected, because faith is the smaller part of the bigger human family,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have different faiths, different colours, different languages, but at the end of the day all religions teach the same thing: respect of other people.SA国际影视传媒�
Yellowknife, a cosmopolitan place if there ever was one, is often quick to show solidarity in times of global crisis and so it should. Hate and ignorance have a broad spotlight in our everyday lives and unfortunately itSA国际影视传媒檚 becoming even more common to hear of shootings abroad, motivated by xenophobia, racist tirades or just plain hatred in general and itSA国际影视传媒檚 alarming.
Father Kirk Tastad, of the Holy Family Lutheran Church, said at the vigil, SA国际影视传媒淲e stand together to make it known that we desire to move together in a different way as one people, with shared humanity.SA国际影视传媒�
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 important Yellowknifers keep an open mind and recognize that peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 race, religion, or sexual orientation makes them no less a human and, when we die and become bones, we are all the same underneath the skin.
Ana Sutendra, who left Sri Lanka for Canada in 1989, said YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 sense of community is what has kept her and her family in the city for many years.
That sense of community is encouraging to see at the vigil that took place on Sunday, and speaks to the most important lesson that can be learned in times of strife SA国际影视传媒� communication is the first step in understanding differences between people and fostering empathy.
It is hopeful to know that Yellowknifers stand with others, across the globe, and refuse to accept hate and violence as the new norm in society.
As Tastad said at the vigil, SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 important that we remind the world and each other that we see whatSA国际影视传媒檚 gone on and we wonSA国际影视传媒檛 forget.SA国际影视传媒�
It is important that Yellowknifers hear from diverse communities so that this community can stand united against hate in any form. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e all walked down this path before and know where it leads and what it brings.
