Cathy Riddell is still trying to understand what happened to her on April 23, 2018.
It has been four years since she and dozens of others had their lives forever changed by the deadliest vehicle attack in Canadian history.
“It’s still absolutely unbelievable what happened. I can’t imagine anyone waking up in the morning and deciding to do what they did,” Riddell told CBC. subway in the morning.
“It really happened, I know it happened. But I just can’t imagine my mind going there.”
subway in the morning7:242018 Yonge Street Van Attack Victim Opens Up About His Anniversary
On April 23, 2018, a man drove a pickup truck down a busy Yonge Street sidewalk, destroying the lives of many innocent people. Nearly four years later, after a couple of weeks in which we’ve seen several high-profile cases of random violence, Jill Dempsey spoke with Cathy Riddell, a survivor of the van attack. They talked about how she has been moving forward with her life and why she doesn’t want her city to live in fear. 7:24
To commemorate the victims, Toronto held its fourth annual online vigil on Saturday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A poem written by an anonymous person in tribute to the victims was read.
Earl John Filion, who represents District 18, Willowdale, said before the event that while it is unfortunate that people are unable to gather in person, he hopes the community can still come together in solidarity.
“It was such a public tragedy that its memory must also be public,” he said.
LOOK: Remembering the victims of the van attack in Toronto
Tuesday marks one year since the deadly truck attack in Toronto, which left 10 dead and several injured. This is how friends and family remember the victims. 3:58
Riddell suffered a fracture to his pelvis, ribs, hip, sacrum and spine, and was in the hospital for two months. She was one of 15 people injured when a man drove a rented cargo van down Toronto’s Yonge Street and deliberately aimed it at pedestrians.
Eleven people died. Anne Marie D’Amico, 30, Dorothy Sewell, 80, Renuka Amarasingha, 45, Munir Najjar, 85, Chul Min (Eddie) Kang, 45, Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Forsyth, 94, Sohe Chung, 22, Andrea Bradden, 33 Geraldine Brady, 83, and Ji Hun Kim, 22, were the 10 victims killed that day.
Amaresh Tesfamariam, 65, was paralyzed from the neck down and remained in hospital until her death in 2021.
Aleksandra Kozhevnikova, 92, suffered multiple fractures and head injuries that day and died two years later.
In early March 2021, the man driving the van was convicted of 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13.
I think it’s important to come together to say that we remember all those people, we remember the pain and the loss that has been experienced,– Former Mayor of Toronto Barbara Hall
Former Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall disbursed the $3.5 million in funds raised for the victims and survivors of the truck attack.
She says that after seeing victims and families deal with tragedy and trial in their own way, she carries the memory of each with her.
“I think it’s important to come together to say that we remember all those people, we remember the pain and the loss that has been experienced.”
Riddell says he’s doing everything he can to put that day behind him.
“I just want to get on with my life,” he said.
“And that’s what everyone should be doing their best to do as well.”
Knowing that the city is facing an increase in seemingly random attacks, she hopes Torontonians will take note of how rare these events really are.
“The only thing that reassures me is that it’s still very random,” Riddell said.
“It’s just part of living in a city. You have to pay attention to where you are and what’s around you, but you don’t need to live in fear.”
The vigil was broadcast by the WeLoveWillowdale Facebook page on Saturday.
The Yonge Street Tragedy Commemoration Committee says places have been reserved at dedicated memorial plaques in both Olive Square Park and Mel Lastman Square for those who wish to pay their respects and place items honoring those lost and affected by the tragedy. truck attack.
These temporary memorials will be available for one week on both plaques beginning April 22.
Reference-www.cbc.ca