MONTREAL – It’s been an emotional day for Montrealers with connections to Belgium.
In order to heal after Tuesday’s terror attacks, they held a vigil outside the Belgian consulate in downtown Montreal.
READ MORE: Timeline of events linking bloodshed in Paris to the Brussels attacks
At least a hundred people showed up to the vigil, which was organized by Michael Boucher via social media.
“I wasn’t expecting such a quick response,” said Boucher.
“I believe that the reactions were quick because the attacks on Paris are still fresh in our minds.”
For others, like exchange student Corentin Des Chevaleries, the attacks hit too close to home.
“It’s really close to my home, just a few kilometers away and I wanted to come to see other people and think about the situation,” said Des Chevaleries.
At the vigil, the Belgian flag was laid down on the sidewalk.
Montrealers wrote messages and lit candles to mourn the victims.
While not everyone who attended the vigil had a direct connection to Belgium, it was still important for many to show support and solidarity.
“I am here to share my solidarity with the Belgian people who live here,” said Sébastien Lavoie.
“They’re 29,000 in the region of Montreal, so it was very important for me to be here.”
READ MORE: Bloodied woman in haunting Brussels attack photo identified
While they may be far away, Montrealers want to show the citizens of Belgium that they are not alone.
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