Two days after serial killer Bruce McArthur was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 25 years, the community will come together in an interfaith, inclusive vigil to remember his victims.
The Metropolitan Community Church is holding "A Vigil for a Grieving Community" Sunday evening at 7:00 to mark the end of McArthur's crimes and the hope of a brighter future.
Rev. Jeff Rock told NEWSTALK1010 that a vigil was held around this time last year, when only five of the victims' names were known.
"With this week's trial, with a lot of the heartbreaking details coming to light, we felt it was necessary a year later to gather together once again as a community and realize only now can we start the healing journey," he said.
The vigil will have Hindu, Muslim and Indigenous participation as well as Christian traditions to represent the cultural and religious backgrounds of some of the victims of their families.
"[It's] open to all," Rock said. "It'll be a time of ritual, prayer and candle-lighting."
"The idea is that we come together in solidarity and begin the healing process, have a good cry and prepare to move forward, and commit to doing better and loving each other more freely as a community."
Rock says there's a sense of relief within the LGBTQ community but also a sense that their safety has been shattered.
"This crime has been a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do," he added.
Rev. Deana Dudley - who gave a victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing on behalf of the LGBTQ community - will also be speaking at the vigil.