Toronto’s LGBT community mourns lives lost in tragedies with candlelight vigil

Members of the LGBT community in Toronto have hosted a candlelight vigil mourning the victims of recent tragedies in the Canadian city.

On Sunday (June 3), the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto held a vigil to remember the lives of people lost in the multiple tragedies in the city in the last year.

Serial killer Bruce McArthur was this year charged with the murder of eight men – but was only arrested after years of bungled investigations into mysterious disappearances within the city’s gay community.

(Adam Berry/Getty Images)

Details of McArthur’s alleged crimes have shaken Toronto’s LGBT community and prompted harsh criticism of the city’s police for reportedly bungling the investigation.

The vigil was held days after the official opening of Toronto Pride on Friday.

According to CBC, Reverend Jeff Rock said to the congregation: “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling some mixed emotions going into Pride.

“My personal response to the murders in the Village community this year will be to be gayer than I have ever been before.”

(GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images)

LGBT activists have been critical of the police’s actions regarding the murders, alleging that authorities did not take warnings from the community about the suspected murders seriously enough and calling for an urgent inquiry into the failings.

This year has also seen the death of trans woman Alloura Wells and an attack in April where a van ploughed into a crowd, killing 10 people.

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