Are we really going to start accusing posters of only caring about themselves and their backyards in a thread devoted to news stories of people fearing, hating and lashing out violently at each other over cultural differences? That seems unnecessary.
As a bilingual, half-aboriginal Canadian I can give an insider perspective on events involving French Canada, English Canada and First Nations Canada. I have no business trying to speak for people I do not know who live in cultures and places I have no first-hand experience with. Don't misinterpret having nothing of value to share as meaning I, and others, don't care.
Since its become a talking point, these are the names and a bit of information about the men who died (there are others in critical condition) in the mosque shooting (courtesy of CBC.ca):
Azzeddine Soufiane
The 57-year-old father of three was a grocer, butcher, and longtime Quebec City resident who often helped guide newcomers to the provincial capital.
He owned and operated the Boucherie Assalam in Sainte-Foy, less than a kilometre away from the Islamic cultural centre where the shooting took place.
Khaled Belkacemi
Belkacemi, 60, was a professor of soil and agri-food engineering at Laval University, also in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood. He earned his bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Polytechnic School of Algiers in Algeria in 1983 and graduated with a PhD from Sherbrooke University in 1990.
His area of research focused on green chemistry and functional foods. He was the keynote speaker at the 66th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference in Quebec City last October.
Aboubaker Thabti
Friends of Thabti, 44, told the Globe and Mail he worked in a pharmacy and had two young children.
Abder Dhakkar told the newspaper that Thabti was one of the first people he met when he came to Quebec City from Montreal a year-and-a-half ago.
"He's so kind; everyone loves him — everyone," he said.
Mamadou Tanou Barry
Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42, worked in information technology, was the father of two toddlers, aged three and one-and-a-half.
Ibrahima Barry
Ibrahima Barry, 39, worked for Quebec's Revenue Ministry, was a father of four. His children are aged 13, seven, three and two.
Abdelkrim Hassane
Hassane, 41, was Algerian and worked as a programming analyst for the Quebec government. He had three daughters, aged 10, eight and 15 months.
Here's a
link to the GoFundMe page if you'd like to offer financial support to the families to help with funeral costs.