Locals hold vigil for Norway

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This article was published 24/07/2011 (5381 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just off a quiet street in the driveway of the Norwegian Consulate Sunday, a handful of people lit candles and sang a verse of Amazing Grace to mark their sympathy for Norway.

Provincial Liberal candidate for Fort Richmond, Dustin Hiles, organized the last minute vigil through Facebook early Sunday. An opera singer who lived in Copenhagen for three months last year led the short service.

“This sent shock waves through all the Scandinavian countries,” Hiles said.

That the man blamed for killing at least 93 people during terrorist attacks on Norway’s government headquarters and at an island retreat for the country’s ruling Labour Party political youth wing is Norwegian is especially chilling, Hiles said.

“It’s like, if we had a youth convention in Flin Flon and somebody came in and opened fire. Think of the effect. It’s exactly the same thing.”

The vigil drew Hile’s fellow Liberal candidates: Syed Bokhari (kirkfield Park) and Matthew Ostrove (Charleswood).

Al Sideen said he is not political, and he attended to show solidarity “so that the people, not only in Oslo, but in all of Canada know that I’m saying, ‘I’m with you guys,’ “

The honorary consul Natalie Denesovych said in a call from Penticton B.C. she’s grateful for the gesture. “That’s extremely kind and generous of the people. Manitobans are always extremely thoughtful,” she said. Denesovych expects to return to the city late Wednesday.