A North Preston-area church held a prayer vigil Friday night after a rash of deadly shootings in the Halifax area.
The vigil outside Saint Thomas Baptist Church featured songs, prayers and more than a dozen photos of the young lives lost.
Organizers say it was an evening to respect those who died, comfort their grieving families, and bring people together to stop the violence.
"We don't want our kids walking around looking over their shoulders,” said Rev. Wallace Smith. “These are the innocent ones who are in school, and doing their best to get educated, so we want to bring them up in a community that they feel loved and respected and enjoy life."
Meantime, a mural was painted Friday in the north-end Halifax community where shooting victim Tyler Richards grew up, serving as a way to honour the late basketball star's life.
"When you have someone who inspires our kids to go to college, let them know your dreams are possible, it’s great. It is so great," said Elaine Williams, who knew Richards.
Richards’ body was found in a west-end Halifax home in April. Three men, all under the age of 30, were killed in less than a week.
Quentrel Provo organized a march to take back the streets in the wake of all the bloodshed. Now he’s busy planning for an official day to stop the violence and spread the love.
"Red stands for stop the bleeding, stop the hurt,” said Provo. “June 10 is going to be Stop the Violence Day in the province of Nova Scotia – the first of its kind in Canada – and everyone is going to wear red.”
They will also be encouraged to do a random act of kindness, like Richards often did in his childhood community.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Marie Adsett.
