Katie Riedel is still trying to find out what happened to her on April 23, 2018.
It has been four years since she and dozens of others changed their lives forever from the deadliest car attack in Canadian history.
“It’s still absolutely amazing what happened. I just can’t imagine anyone waking up in the morning and deciding to do what he did,” Riddle told CBC’s Metro Morning.
“It really happened, I know it happened. But I just can’t imagine my mind going there.”
Metro Morning7: 24The victim of the 2018 Yonge Street van attack speaks of an anniversary
On April 23, 2018, a man was driving a van on a busy sidewalk on Yonge Street, destroying the lives of many innocent people. Nearly four years later, a few weeks later, when we saw several popular cases of arbitrary violence, Jill Dempsey spoke to Katie Riedel, a survivor of the van attack. They discussed how she continues her life and why she does not want her city to live in fear. 7:24
To honor the memory of the victims, Toronto held its fourth annual online vigil on Saturday over the COVID-19 pandemic. A poem written by an anonymous person was read in honor of the victims.
count. John Filion, who represents Unit 18, Willowdale, said before the event that while it is unfortunate that people cannot come together in person, he hopes the community can still come together in solidarity.
“It was such a public tragedy that the memory of it must also be made public,” he said.
WATCH: A memorial to the victims of the minibus attack in Toronto
Remembering the victims of the minibus attack in Toronto
Tuesday marks one year since a deadly minibus attack in Toronto killed 10 people and injured several others. This is how friends and family remember the victims. 3:58
Riddle suffered a fracture of the pelvis, ribs, thigh, sacrum and spine and was hospitalized for two months. She was one of 15 people injured when a man drove a rented van on Yonge Street in Toronto and deliberately targeted pedestrians.
Eleven people died. Anne Marie D’Amico, 30, Dorothy Sewell, 80, Renuca Amarasingha, 45, Munir Najar, 85, Chul Min (Eddie) Kang, 45, Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Forsythe, 94, Sohe Chung, 22, Andrea Bradan, 33 , Geraldine Brady, 83, and Ji Hong Kim, 22, were the 10 victims killed that day.
Amaresh Tesfamariam, 65, was paralyzed from the neck down and remained in hospital until her death in 2021.
Alexandra Kozhevnikova, 92, suffered multiple fractures and head injuries that day and died two years later.
In early March 2021, the man driving the van was found guilty of 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder, and is scheduled to be convicted on June 13.
I think it’s important that we come together to say that we remember all these people, we remember the pain and the loss that was experienced – former Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall
Former Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall has paid $ 3.5 million in funds raised for victims and survivors of the van attack.
She says that after watching the victims and families deal with the tragedy and the process in their own way, she carries everyone’s memory with her.
“I think it’s important to unite to say we remember all these people, we remember the pain and the loss we’ve been through.”
Riddle says he is doing his best to leave that day behind.
“I just want to get on with my life,” she said.
“And that’s what everyone should be trying to do.”
Knowing that the city is facing an increase in seemingly random attacks, she hopes Toronto residents will keep in mind how rare these events actually are.
“The only thing that reassures me is that it’s still very random,” Riedel said.
“It’s just a part of city life. You have to pay attention to where you are and what’s around you, but you don’t have to live in fear of it.”
The vigil was broadcast on WeLoveWillowdale’s Facebook page on Saturday.
The Yonge Street Remembrance Committee says special memorial plaques in Olive Square and Mel Lastman Square have designated places for those who want to pay their respects and place objects in honor of those lost and affected by the van attack.
These temporary monuments will be available for one week on both slabs from April 22.
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