People gathered at a coastal park in Lindsay, Ont. Friday night to remember a young boy who was found dead in a river earlier this week.
Hundreds attended a candlelight memorial at Draven Graham in Riviera Park near Colburn and Lindsey Streets.
The 11-year-old boy with autism disappeared on the afternoon of June 12 and was found dead about 24 hours later in the Skugog River.
At the vigil, people placed plush toys, balloons and messages in support of a growing makeshift memorial in the park.
The society observed a moment of silence and threw flowers into the river.
One of Draven’s grandfathers sang Amazing Grace, and another shared his memories of the boy, remembering his grandson as a “cute little boy.”
Draven’s disappearance sparked a widespread reaction that saw police from several jurisdictions as well as volunteers searching for him on foot and by boat. They also used a drone, a helicopter and police dogs in their efforts to find him.
The death of the child has renewed calls for a warning system for vulnerable people. So far, more than 68,000 people have signed the Draven Alert petition for “missing children with autism and vulnerable / with special needs”.
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