Maritimers will be gathering at candlelight vigils this week to show their support for the LGBT community following a deadly shooting rampage at a gay club in Orlando.
“I was devastated to hear the news and I felt that, as a person who went out last night, it could have been myself and my friends who were out there and enjoying our night and we could have been the ones gunned down,” said Gabriel Dusk, who is organizing a vigil in Halifax.
“It was just a senseless, senseless crime.”
Authorities say suspect 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire in the Pulse Orlando nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning, taking hostages and firing bullets at clubgoers and police.
Mateen was killed in a gun battle with SWAT team members, bringing the death toll to 50 people. Dozens more were critically wounded in what police are calling the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
President Barack Obama has called the shooting an "act of terror" and an "act of hate" targeting a place of "solidarity and empowerment" for gays and lesbians.
Dusk says the candlelight vigil in Halifax will provide people an opportunity to send prayers to the victims and their families and to offer support and solidarity for those affected by the shooting.
“We decided to do it because when I started talking to my friends, we would break down,” said Dusk. “We were just breaking down and we felt the need to gather.”
The vigil will be held Monday at the Halifax Common between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
"We're going to move forward with a message of love and support and overall acceptance,” said Halifax Pride chair Willem Blois. “We want everyone to know we are not tolerating islamophobic sentiments. We certainly have many queer Muslim and queer Arab in our community.”
The rainbow pride flag will also be flying at half-mast at Halifax City Hall, Halifax Regional Police headquarters and at Dalhousie University in honour of those who lost their lives.
"We want people to know we grieve with them,” said Halifax Mayor Mike Savage. “Whether we have a direct connection to Orlando, we feel this incredible pain they do and want them to know that."
“They want to disrupt our lives,” said Chief Jean-Michel Blais of Halifax Regional Police. “The way we fight back is by continuing our lives and be able to win the battle against their fear mongering."
The Dalhousie Agricultural Campus will hold a candlelight vigil Monday at the Centennial Amphitheatre in Truro, N.S. It starts at 7 p.m.
The Wolfville Area Pride Group will hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Clock Park in Wolfville, N.S. Participants are encouraged to bring pride flags and wear rainbow colours. Organizers will also be collecting donations for the Valley Youth Project.
In Sydney, the Pride Cape Breton Society is hosting a candlelight vigil 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Wentworth Park Bandshell. Participants are asked to bring a candle. The vigil will be moved to MacNeil Bakery in the event of rain. The pride flag will also be flying at half-mast at Sydney City Hall.
Supporters in Moncton will gather for a candlelight vigil Monday at 8 p.m. at Riverfront Park.
Fredericton Pride will hold a vigil Thursday at Fredericton City Hall at 6 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring candles if possible.
Pride PEI is hosting a candlelight vigil Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Trinity United Church in Charlottetown.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Marie Adsett.
