Montreal prepares to honor the victims of the Quebec City mosque attack with events and discussions on remembrance and community unity.
Quebec City: It’s been eight years since that tragic night when a gunman entered the mosque and took six lives. The Centre culturel islamique de Québec still bears a reminder—a single bullet hole in its wall. Mohamed Labidi, the mosque’s president, insists it’s crucial to remember the victims: Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzedine Soufiane, and Aboubaker Thabti.
Despite renovations that erased most signs of the attack, that one hole remains. Labidi worries that as time goes on, people are starting to forget. This year, he noticed a lack of enthusiasm from the community for the mosque’s open house and events leading up to the anniversary. It’s disheartening, he says, to see such low attendance.
On Wednesday, there are plans for various events in Montreal and Quebec City to honor the victims. Mayor Valérie Plante will lead a ceremony at Montreal City Hall, while Quebec City will host discussions on Islamophobia, prayers, and a couscous dinner in memory of those lost.
There’s also a vigil planned at 4 p.m. outside Montreal’s Parc metro station. One of the organizers, Samira Laouni, emphasized the importance of remembering the victims and their families, who are still feeling the impact of that night.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Quebec City recently to meet with the victims’ families, showing support and solidarity. The shooter, Alexandre Bissonnette, is serving a life sentence for his crimes, but the scars remain for the community.
Labidi believes there’s been some progress in attitudes toward Muslims since the attack, but he’s critical of the Quebec government’s recent moves to tighten secularism laws. He feels the community is often used as a political tool, especially during elections, which only deepens divisions.
He reminds everyone that the families of the victims are still part of the mosque community. The pain of their loss is still fresh, and he insists that Quebec has a collective duty to remember this tragedy so that no one else has to endure such suffering.
