London neighbourhood remembers Josie Glenn by turning porch lights purple

Shaken by the discovery of London’s fourth homicide victim in their tight-knit community, residents of the south-east Summerside neighbourhood in London are rallying behind a campaign to turn purple in support of Josie Glenn’s friends and family.

Katherine McIntyre, who lives in the subdivision where Glenn’s remains were found late last month, said she came up with the idea and posted it in the neighbourhood’s Facebook group.

“I assumed I’d be buying 30 light bulbs,” she told 980 CFPL.

But an overwhelming show of support from the community means McIntyre is contacting Canadian manufacturers to fill more than 200 requests.

“We decided to hold off, keep a list of who has them reserved and then all the extra will be available to the general public or people who didn’t reserve them.”

At $5 apiece, McIntyre said they’ll distribute light bulbs during a vigil in Glenn’s name with proceeds going towards the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) in hopes that a death like hers will never happen again.

“I think it caught everybody by surprise, with a lot of mixed emotions and not really an outlet for them,” she explained.

The campaign falls in line with LAWC’s Shine the Light campaign, which urges locals and businesses to turn purple throughout the month of November to condemn violence against women.

“We’re thinking about Josie. This did not go unnoticed,” said McIntyre.

“She will be remembered.”

Friends say Glenn had a bubbly personality, talent as a singer, and a love for animals. Her remains were found in a home on South Leaksdale Circle on Oct. 27th, days after she was reported missing.

Oluwatobi Boyede, 25, is charged with second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a human body in the case. He’s set to appear back in court by video-link on Friday.

Thursday’s vigil will take place at Meadowgate Park at 6 p.m., and a moment of silence will be observed at 6:30 p.m.