What started as 30 people huddled in the cold to honour those who lost their lives to an overdose quickly doubled Friday night.
Residents gathered on the corner of Ouellette and University Ave. in downtown Windsor for a silent vigil. It didn't take long for people to join-in as they learned why the sidewalk had been blocked for more than an hour Friday night.
"It's such a beautiful reflection of our common humanity to curiously enter into the circle and be handed a candle. Then as they read the explanation of why we're here and wanting to stay," says Reverend Rielly McLaren, who led the vigil.
He tells AM800 News it's a reminder those who lost their lives are people too.
"We're here to dignify them, to value their human life because they're not a junky, they're someone's brother, someone's sister, someone's daughter, someone's mother, someone's father," he says. "We're here to honour their life, a life taken too soon." McLaren says. "There are people here that said to me that they just lost someone to an overdose," says McLaren.
Four suspected overdose deaths were reported in Windsor over a 24-hour period last weekend.
Thirty people quickly doubled to around 60 for a silent candlelight vigil for overdose victims in downtown Windsor Friday night. Reverend Riley McLaren says the amount of bystanders who joined in was “special.” @AM800News @CTVWindsor #cklw pic.twitter.com/vGPO4HgFTW
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) November 17, 2018