A ceremony of renewal was held Saturday afternoon at the Leaside home where the remains of all eight of Bruce McArthur's alleged victims were found earlier this year.
Homeowners Ron Smith and Karen Fraser decided to hold the event as a way of thanking the community for their support, but also to remember the victims and "reclaim the space" that was taken from them allegedly by McArthur and the subsequent police investigation, which took several months.
But Saturday, there was a sense of renewal and rebirth outside 53 Mallory Crescent, as friends, neighbours, members of the LGBTQ community, faith leaders and politicians came out to remember those lost and help with healing the community.
"Most of the people who are here - if not all of them - were people who touched our lives while we were in the middle of it all," Smith told the crowd. "To them, you know who you are, and I want to personally thank you for all the kindness and basically for seeing us through a very difficult time."
Since the investigation, the couple has repainted their once-orange garage door grey. It also reads the words "we are one. We are how we treat each other when the day is done," lyrcis from the song 'Nothing More' by the Alternate Routes.
"What we wanted to do was change the mood," Fraser told reporters. "We had what we'd call 'tourists,' who go by sometimes 8, 9, 10 times - very strange."
She said once the door was changed, she remembers firefighters driving by, stopping to read the door and then nodding at it respectfully. She also recalled a grandmother with her her 5-year-old grandchild, explaining in age-appropriate terms what had happened.
"We were really pleased," Fraser added. "It just seemed to change the mood from the door that everybody knew from the news."
Saturday's ceremony of renewal featured musical performances, as well as prayer and healing services.
Fraser and Smith say they have no intention to leave the house, as it has been in their family for years and still feels like home.