Hundreds of North York residents marched down Yonge St. to soft-sung hymns, following the path of destruction that tore down the street just a week earlier.Carrying banners that boldly proclaimed #TorontoStrong, they joined hundreds more who had crowded around the stage in Mel Lastman Square more than an hour ahead of a vigil Sunday.Despite the unseasonable cold, by the time the vigil started, thousands were crowded on concrete bleachers, huddled on grassy hills, and spillled out to the edges of the square to pay their respects at a ceremony to remember the victims of a van rampage that killed 10 people and left more than a dozen wounded.The city had said earlier that it expected upwards of 25,000 people at the vigil.Most couldn’t see the stage and it was hard to hear the speakers, but the community stood for an hour — many for much longer. They were determined to reclaim their neighbourhood and their city in the wake of unimaginable tragedy.“It’s good to be here, just to see that it hasn’t broken us, that we’re all going to get together and show support for all the lives lost,” said Catherine Van, who sat huddled with two of her cousins on the grassy hill overlooking the amphitheatre at Lastman Square.The somber, reflective tone of the event was set during sound checks and choir rehearsals that ran up until the official program began. The crowd watched a rendition of Amazing Grace so silently, a helicopter could be heard whirring overhead. There was spontaneous applause for a group of first responders who filed in to the amphitheater in the square just after of O Canada.The City of Toronto and interfaith groups co-hosted the vigil at Mel Lastman Square. The vigil started at 7 p.m. and those in attendance included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Kathleen Wynne and Mayor John Tory.Even though it was 9 C when the vigil started, it felt much colder with the wind chill. It was remarkably quiet in the square as the tho ...
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