Community members braved the rain on Tuesday night to share their grief over the killing of Brkti Berhe, a 36-year-old mother who was stabbed to death in front of two of her young children.
At least 200 people attended the gathering at Paul Landry Park, the same park where Berhe was killed last week. Attendees included people who knew Berhe, as well as Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington, who represents the area.
As a few onlookers cried, attendees placed flowers and candles near a rock that has been turned into a makeshift memorial for Berhe.
Brockington said organizing the vigil was important because the community needed an opportunity to grieve and to support Berhe’s family.
“We wanted to show the family that we care about them, that we support them, that we will be there with them,” he said.
Attendee Maakele Weldeyesus said he knew Berhe as their kids attend the same school.
“That is unforgettable for me,” Weldeyesus said of Berhe’s death. “I was at work and my son told me when I come back right away. So I don’t know, I’m not feeling good about that.”
Rosa Dau, a resident of the area, said she used to talk to Berhe whenever she saw her pass by with her children. Dau said her son witnessed the attack at the park last week.
“It was very scary to see a young woman like that just got killed in front of [her] own kids,” she said.
Brockington said while he was heartened so many people came to the vigil, he’s still disturbed by Berhe’s death.
“There’s people who are very, very saddened by what’s happened and we’re here to stand with them and support them,” he said.
‘Their lives are never going to be the same’
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told CBC News that he had met some of Berhe’s family and offered condolences on behalf of the city.
“Whenever an event like this happens in the community, it’s devastating when you think of a family that’s been ripped apart by this and their lives are never going to be the same,” he said.
Ottawa police have charged a 36-year-old Montreal man, Fsha Tekhle, with first-degree murder over Berhe’s death. Berhe knew Tekhle because her aunt had recently left a relationship with him, a family friend previously told CBC.
Ottawa police have labelled the killing a femicide, only the second time they’ve used that designation of a homicide related to the victim’s gender.
Sutcliffe said the police’s use of the femicide is “an important step” in the city’s efforts to address gender-based violence.
“There’s no limit to what we must do to make sure that women are safe and that there are no more children in our community who have their mothers taken away from them,” he said.