Amanda Todd vigil draws hundreds to Surrey, B.C., park

Hundreds of people gathered in a Surrey, B.C., park Friday night for a candlelight vigil in memory of Amanda Todd.

The 15-year-old took her own life earlier this month after being bullied for years at school and online.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts told the crowd gathered in Holland Park that bullying has to be stopped where ever it occurs.

"Amanda's death has sparked outrage, grief — and to those who are still suffering in silence, I want to send one message: that there is help available and you are not alone."

Watts says what happened to Amanda Todd was a heart-wrenching case of exploitation, torment and ultimately suicide.

"No child should feel such pain, loneliness and helplessness," she told the crowd. "Amanda's death has sparked outrage, grief and the collective coming together of all of us today to create change."

RCMP Supt. Bill Fordy read a message from Amanda Todd’s family at Surrey’s vigil.

"We are overwhelmed with your thoughts, prayers and love from each and every one of you. We would like to see changes made around the world to put an end to bullying once and for all."

The Surrey vigil was organized by a group called Global Girl Power. Group founder Navi Gill says this idea was picked up around the world.

"All of a sudden this went global," she said.

"We have right now over 40 cities all over the globe … That includes Spain, India, Japan. We have somebody in Aruba [and] Denmark that wanted to join us on this day to light up the world and stand up against bullying."