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Oakville pays tribute to victims of Orlando shooting by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 5 | Thursday, June 23, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com No matter where tragedy strikes, it always hits close to home. This was evident last Thursday (June 16) night at Oakville's Towne Square, where 250300 people gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the June 12 shootings (49 dead, 53 injured) in an Orlando, Fla., nightclub that mainly catered to members of the LGBT community. Organized by resident Mason Saunders and Ward 6 Town Councillor Natalia Lishchyna, the half-hour vigil featured performances from Theatre Sheridan students and Jasmine Samadhin, a prayer led by Rabbi Stephen Wise and Interfaith Council of Halton (IFCH) members and other tributes. A group of 10 residents read the victim's names aloud, which was followed by two minutes of silence as tribute. "Tonight, we stand together to remember Heaven's newest angels and to commit to ourselves, and each other, that we will be among those who choose to answer violence and intolerance with love and acceptance," said Lishchyna. The Town councillor said Oakville is a "very caring and loving community," as shown by the number of people in attendance. "I wish we didn't have to put this together to Candles are lit beside the names of the victims of the recent shooting in Orlando, Fla., during a memorial vigil held last Thursday (June 16) at Towne Square in downtown Oakville. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton (inset) was among those to speak at the memorial. | photo by Noah Park - special to the Beaver honour the victims because nobody wants this kind of thing to ever happen again. We wish it didn't happen," said Lishchyna. "We felt, as a community, that we needed to honour them and I think that's why everybody came out today." Samadhin sung Amazing Grace and Theatre Sheridan students performed True Colors, in separate tributes. Dave Comeau, one of five people singing True Colours, is a music theatre performance student at Sheridan College. The incident took Comeau by surprise, he said, because the location and a specific group of people were targeted, which was "quite devastating." Having the community come together in solidarity is "incredibly important," the 28-yearold said, particularly his involvement with other Theatre Sheridan students. "We just had to make a presence here, given that I couldn't attend the Toronto vigil. I had to be sure I was commemorating and showing support," said Comeau. Attacks against the LGBT community has a lot to do with nurturing and how individuals are raised as children, Comeau said, because some are "ignorant to realities that exist." "If you see something happening, be that person, as long as you feel safe, to defend somebody who may be struggling or is a target from someone else. It goes a long way and there is a ripple effect if you help out one person," said Comeau. Michael Rubinoff, an associate dean at Sheridan Oakville, was heartbroken when he learned of the shootings, which has been tough on the LGBT community, he said. "These are people who probably have overcome adversity and had the courage to come out and live their lives openly. To go to a place where they're able to do that and celebrate that, to have their lives taken in that way is really tragic and upsetting," said Rubinoff. He said it was wonderful to have Theatre Sheridan students perform a tribute since the college has a sizable LGBT community. see `We on p.10 Won't Be Beat If you find a cheaper price, simply show us and we will match.* OLD MILL BREAD 675 g pain LAnTIC 2 kg fine granulated sucre MILK 4L 1%, 2% or skim lait INJURED? I Can Help! 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