By Daniel Kirchin
Local Journalism Initiative
In a solemn remembrance ceremony held at Plymouth Trinity United Church on Monday evening, community members gathered to reflect on a harrowing incident that occurred seven years ago. The event, etched vividly in the memory of those present, unfolded on a Sunday evening when a shooter entered the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec, leaving six people dead and five injured.
The annual commemoration activity, organized by Actions interculturelles executive director Mohamed Soulami and Abdelilah Hamdache, president of the Institute of the Arab and Muslim World of Estrie, saw the participation of 12 organizations, including the Federation of Cultural Communities of Estrie, the Transcultural Educational Association, the Diocese of Sherbrooke, and the Islamic Cemetery of South-Eastern Quebec.
Others including Samuel Dansokho, Ahmed Chraibi, Aurélie Caldwell, and Gérard Coté, collaborated in the commemoration ceremony. As a diverse assembly gathered for a symbolic minute of silence and contemplation, candles were lit by young people from the Muslim community, symbolizing a collective remembrance and a call for unity.
Inside the Plymouth-Trinity Church, over 50 people paid tribute. Voices of diversity project members, Nesrine and Jessica hosted the ceremony, adding a nuanced touch influenced by the current global context.
Mohamed Soulami said during the ceremony that, “I turned on the television. The news was everywhere. What I felt at that moment, yes, it was a great shock. Lots of misunderstanding too. How could anyone do something such as that?”
Reflecting on the tragic day, Soulami emphasized the importance of commemoration ceremonies. He stated that, “We must always remember what happened if we want to reduce the risks of such a tragedy happening again.”
The ongoing war in the Middle East, with its impact on Muslim communities globally, became an integral part of the commemoration’s tone. Soulami condemned the conflict as a “dirty war, totally unacceptable, which violates the human and universal values established by all countries since 1945.”
Soulami stressed the need to distinguish between global conflicts and local initiatives. “We are aware that we must not mix things up. Today, what we want is to remember the inclusive and pacifist values of our society. It is a call that wants to stop gestures of Islamophobia as well as those of antisemitism, a call that wants to stop all discrimination. What we advocate is living together.”
Living together, however, faces challenges, as evidenced by incidents of racism or discrimination, such as the one Mohamed recalled from the fall. Despite such challenges, efforts to build bridges and connections persist.
The commemoration ceremony was held in Pastor Samuel V. Dansokho’s church, which symbolized unity beyond differences. The pastor, who recently commemorated the Shoah (The Holocaust), expressed solidarity with the victims of Islamophobia.
“These are different events that call us to go beyond everything that divides us to connect with everything that unites us. Each time it is a fight against hatred, each time a fight for peace, understanding, harmony.”