North York women's shelter unveils plaque to honour Toronto van attack victim's legacy

A plaque honouring one of the victims of the 2018 Toronto van attack was unveiled on Tuesday at the North York Women's Shelter. 

Wednesday marks the seventh anniversary of the Yonge Street attack, which took the lives of 10 people, mostly women. The victims included 30-year-old Anne-Marie D'Amico, remembered by those who knew her as a cheerful and caring individual as well as a committed volunteer. 

In her honour, the Anne Marie D'Amico Foundation donated $1 million to the shelter to give back to the North York community, where the attack occurred. The shelter, in turn, put up the plaque to recognize the donation and help preserve D'Amico's legacy.

Nicholas D'Amico, D'Amico's brother and president of the foundation, told CBC Toronto that the plaque holds a special place in the family's hearts.

"It's a symbol of hope for anyone that comes in here to show that there is love, there is kindness out there, and there is someone [at the shelter] that can be there and help you. We hope that everyone who comes in here knows that," he said.

At the unveiling, her brother said the family doesn't want people to remember D'Amico with sadness or anger, which is why they're naming the anniversary of her death the Anne Marie D'Amico Day of Kindness and Love. The Toronto Catholic School Board marked the day with an assembly at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. 

WATCH | Toronto Catholic school board honours Anne Marie D'Amico:

Toronto Catholic District School Board holds Day of Kindness in honour of Anne Marie D'Amico

7 hours ago

Duration 1:58

The city is marking seven years since the Yonge Street van attack. Ten people were killed in the rampage that mostly targeted women. The Toronto Catholic District School Board is remembering Anne Marie D'Amico, a member of their community who was killed.

Carol Latchford, the shelter's executive director, told CBC Toronto that a large part of the donation went toward building the Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective, which provides trauma-informed support services to women, transgender, and non-binary people, who have experienced violence. It's also where the plaque is hung.

The rest of the donation will allow the shelter to continue supporting survivors of gender-based violence.

"It's the families like the D'Amico's, who support so generously our mission and our values, that allows us to continue the much-needed work–life-saving work [we do,]" she said.