Rally for slain Pointe-Claire teen Lucas Gaudet decries youth violence

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“We march … for Lucas,” the crowd chanted Saturday afternoon as a line of more than 50 friends and family members of Lucas Gaudet walked from the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Monument to city hall.

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They were marching in memory of the 16-year-old teen who was stabbed near St. Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire on Feb. 8. People carried signs bearing photos of Gaudet and the words: “Taken too soon,” “Lucas , a true angel,” “Stop the violence,” “Let’s make a change,” and “Gone but not forgotten.”

Gaudet was the latest of a number of victims of youth violence over the past year. His mother, Lynne Baudouy, read the names of her son de ella and several others in front of city hall.

“I’d like to take a moment to remember all the kids who passed away,” she said. “Amir Benayad, 17 years old; Meriem Boundaoui, 15 years old; Hani Ouahdi, 20 years old; Thomas Trudel, 16 years old. All victims of youth violence, along with the countless silent victims, too terrified to come forward, in fear of their intimidators.”

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She recalled the day she and her husband received the fateful call telling them their son was in hospital, and the news two days later that he wasn’t going to make it.

“Then the days just seem like a blur,” she said. “How do we continue with everyday life?”

Her answer came through action.

“I realized something needs to change,” Baudouy told the crowd. She dedicated the rally to her son de ella “and all the other victims of youth violence, bullying and intimidation.”

She called on Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, Premier François Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to devote more funding to community outreach programs in order to keep young people out of trouble.

“Why do our youth feel so left out? My son was lucky enough he played organized hockey, but not every parent has that privilege,” she said, wearing her son’s hockey jersey. “The kids who need the most help are left to their own devices, and look what happened.”

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Melissa Bowman last saw Gaudet on the Sunday before he was killed. Her brother of her played hockey with him, and was one of his best buddies of him.

“My mom had 10 of my brother’s friends over,” Bowman said. “He came into our house with open arms, giving everyone hugs. He was sweet, kind and loving — there’s no other way to describe him.”

She hoped the rally leads to change, “change in youth violence,” she said, “not even youth — all violence, all ages. Just stop the hate, honestly, everywhere.”

Aiden Landry and Samuel Mariampillai were still processing the loss of their close friend.

“We lost our brother,” said Landry, 17. “I had known him since I was six years old. We were all devastated by the news. We just want people to stop using violence. It shouldn’t be used to solve problems. They should just talk it out.”

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Gaudet wasn’t involved in violence and had no animosity toward anyone, Landry explained.

“It made us realize how randomly stuff like that can happen.”

Mariampillai, 18, said he came out “to spread awareness about the fact that people are bringing knives and weapons to school. It should be a safe place to learn. … We shouldn’t have any of these weapons available to kids, or on property where people are supposed to learn.”

Gaudet’s stepbrother Skyler Robichaud was comforted by the turnout for the event.

“It really warmed my heart to see how many people he loved, and how many people loved him,” Robichaud said. “He always had a smile on his face, and he was always happy. It’s sad that he’s gone.”

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