Events begin Tuesday to mark two year anniversary of ‘Our London Family’ tragedy
A series of events to honour the Afzaal family begins Tuesday, and lasts over the next several weeks.
With the two year anniversary of the attack on the Afzaal family around the corner, community groups remain steadfast in their resolve to stamp out Islamophobia, said London, Ont. Mayor Josh Morgan.
“And really the spirit that came out of this was a commitment to remember and continuing to combat Islamophobia in all of it forms, wherever it arises, so the events surrounding the anniversary are really important to that goal,” he said.
On June 6, 2021, the Afzaal family was out for an evening walk when they were run down by a pickup truck in what police said was a deliberate act.
Four members of the family were killed, while a nine-year-old boy survived the attack, but was orphaned.
Among the key events is the Our London Family vigil, set to take place on June 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road, where the incident happened.
The event is being staged by the Youth Coalition Combatting Islamophobia. Spokesperson Sarrah Lawendy said the community as a whole has tried hard to create positive change.
Mural at the Our London Family Vigil in London, Ontario on Monday June 6, 2022 (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)
“This is a time and space where everyone can come together, be unified, remember what happened, honour the family,” she said. “The resilience piece is a way for people to look forward.”
Parking for the vigil is being provided at Real Canadian Superstore on Oxford Street West and Hyde Park Road, and at Lowe’s on Fanshawe Park Road and Hyde Park Road. Shuttle rides to and from the site will be provided.
Also among the events, Breaking Barriers: Confronting Islamophobia.
The speaker series includes journalist Ginella Massa, and Canada’s first representative on combatting Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby.
Organizer Zeba Hashmi said she expects it to be a powerful session.
“Amira, she’s so accomplished in every way as an advocate for human rights, and Ginella who’s in the media sector as somebody who’s racialized Afro-Latin roots. And you know she’s in there, she’s doing her job,” she said.
Breaking Barriers: Confronting Islamophobia takes place at the London Muslim Mosque June 4 at 4 p.m.
Tributes and formal ceremonies wrap up on June 17 at Hyde Park Village Green, where the Garden of Reflection will be unveiled.
A full list of Our London Family events can be found on the City of London’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.