Day of solidarity for Humboldt ends as vigils light up Newfoundland and Labrador

Lights glowed bright in a soccer field in Mount Pearl on Thursday as hundreds of people gathered in colourful sports jerseys to raise a light and a hockey stick in support of the Humboldt Broncos.

"All of us are dealing with this in different ways over the last week, and I think having us all here tonight, as a group, helps with the grieving process," said Trevor Murphy, president of the Mount Pearl Blades Minor Hockey Association.

The vigil capped off a day of tributes and events in Newfoundland and Labrador to the 16 people killed in a Saskatchewan bus accident April 6. It was one of several vigils held in the province.

During the daylight hours, people in the province took part in Jersey Day, wearing the team's jersey, its colours, or even just their own sports apparel as a show of support for the team.

Several schools in the province took part.

At Roncalli Elementary in Airport Heights, grade six students proudly wore their jerseys in a show of support for the players and their families.

"It shouldn't have happened, they should have just lived a full life," said grade six student Adon Boland.

"I really hope this isn't too hard hard on you," he said in a message to the families of the victims. "I know it is, I know you wish your kids were still alive, but at least they're having fun in heaven, still playing hockey."

The hallways at Prince of Wales Collegiate in St. John's were a sea of bright reds, blues, yellows and greens as students gathered in their jerseys.

Suzan Deng wore her pink wheelchair basketball jersey to show her solidarity.

"I just wanted to show that we are supporting them in this tragic time," she said.

She's hoping that the families and friends of the victims see that whole country is behind them.

"I just hope that they know that we are supporting them 100 per cent."

'It's their way of responding to what's happening countrywide'

Chris Druken, vice-principal and hockey coach at Mount Pearl Senior High, told CBC's On the Go on Thursday morning that members of the school's Huskies teams were wearing their own jerseys, NHL jerseys or uniforms from sports other than hockey.

"It's their way of responding to what's happening countrywide today in the wake of the tragedy in Western Canada," said Druken, who estimated that about three-quarters of the student body was wearing a jersey today.

"In this province with our geographic challenges that we have in high school sports, in our local sports, we spend a considerable amount of time on the highways," he said, adding that such a tragedy could easily happen in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"That's been part of the conversation that our students have been having, when they're having them with teachers and at home with parents is that, you know, it could easily be one of them or one of their friends or a group of their friends, that we would be having to respond to a similar situation in our own province."

The Marine Institute put out green ribbons for students and staff to wear. Staff at The Rooms' provincial archives museum pulled out old hockey sticks from its collection to stand by the entrance, part of another tribute to the team. Metrobus drivers are wearing jerseys or Broncos colours as well.

Druken said questions from students struggling to understand the tragedy are tough.

"People ask why it happens, and you really don't have an answer that is definitive. It's impossible to do that, to give them something concrete. And kids like to have that concrete answer about why something happens," he said.

"What you do for them is you allow them the opportunity to ask the questions, to engage in conversation," he said. Then you get the students to focus on the reaction to the tragedy, he added.

"It gives the kids an opportunity to come together and see how the community will stick together, particularly the hockey world, which is tight right across the country, in times of need, and then recognize that if something does happen to you, might not be necessarily an incident such as this one, but at a time when you need help, there's going to be people around to support you."