Stanley Mission residents send display of love to La Loche, Sask.

A community in northern Saskatchewan showed a display of solidarity on Monday evening with those grieving in La Loche. 

Community members in Stanley Mission, Sask., gathered at a frozen lake for a candlelight tribute to those killed in the tragic school shooting in La Loche on Friday. Four people were killed in the attack and seven more are injured in hospital. 

It was a beautiful thing. A lot of people had tears in their eyes.- Prestin Fleming, Stanley Mission resident

Prestin Fleming, a recreation coordinator at the community school, was part of the candlelight display. 

"It was a beautiful thing. A lot of people had tears in their eyes," Fleming said.

He said the initiative was arranged this afternoon at the town's high school and it quickly came together. 

"We're all connected here, so we just wanted to show them our support and that we're here for them and we're sending our prayers and condolences with their community," he said.   

Fleming headed down to the ice early and drew an outline of a heart with paint, while others made up posters about the event to hang around the school.

Students cut milk carton lanterns so that the wind wouldn't blow them out later that night. 

When the time came for the event, dozens showed up. As people arrived, they would take a candle and step onto their position on the heart outline on the ice.  

The result was a beautiful display of love for La Loche. 

Stanley Mission holds candlelight vigil for La Loche

9 years ago

Duration 1:24

The northern community of Stanley Mission, Sask., held a candlelight vigil on Jan. 25 in memory of the La Loche shooting victims.

"Showing them that they're not alone in this journey right now, that their tragedy has affected all of Canada, but northern Saskatchewan is a pretty close-knit group," Fleming said.

Stanley Mission is around 500 kilometres southeast of La Loche, but the schools often compete in sports against each other. 

Fleming said the tribute came together thanks to effort from the entire community. 

"I'm just really humbled by this experience, and really grateful for the community and all the support that everyone gave today," he said.  

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