Students gather at University of Calgary to mourn stabbing victims
Hundreds of students gathered at the University of Calgary to mourn five young people stabbed to death.
Among those at the emotional community gathering in MacEwan Hall Tuesday afternoon were students, staff, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
"We're going to make it through this. We're strong. We're strong because we have each other," Nenshi said.
Students signed a flag of condolence and speakers urged them to take care of themselves and make use of the resources available, such as the campus Wellness Centre.
"You might feel alone right now, but look at this room. Let's come together as a community," said student president Raphael Jacob.
Matthew de Grood, who attended the university, is in custody after four men and a woman died following the early-morning stabbings in the city’s Brentwood neighbourhood, just north of the campus.
According to neighbours, people at a house in the quiet neighbourhood had been celebrating the last day of university classes with a fire in the backyard. Bermuda Shorts Day festivities to mark the end of the University of Calgary’s winter semester have been a campus tradition since 1960.
Josh Hunter and Zackariah Rathwell have been identified as two of the victims.
