Today marks the seventeenth anniversary of the Gakhal/Saran mass murder — a horrifying tragedy that happened in Vernon and remains the second biggest mass murder in Canadian history.
As with past years, there will be a candlelight vigil to memorialize the nine members of the Gakhal and Saran families that were killed on April 5, 1996.
The murders were committed by the estranged husband of one of the victims.
Event organizers hope today’s vigil raises awareness about the devastating impact of violence against women.
“It’s really important for the family that the community comes out and supports them at this time and that we remember the victims that were killed,” says Brooke McLardy, Vernon Women’s Transition House. “There were nine victims that day and also to remember the other victims of domestic violence. In Vernon, we had a murder suicide, just a month ago here.”
The vigil begins at six p.m. at the memorial outside the former Vernon library where there will be speakers, refreshments and a chance to meet the surviving family members.
Comments