Hundreds gather at Calgary vigil for two children found dead
Posted May 9, 2026 12:10 am.
Last Updated May 9, 2026 12:21 am.
A mother’s wail broke the silence as hundreds gathered Friday night for a candlelight vigil in northwest Calgary, mourning two young children whose deaths have shaken the city.
The vigil honoured a five-year-old boy and his three-year-old sister, allegedly murdered by their father and found dead inside a vehicle on April 30 — a tragedy that has left families, teachers and community members struggling to find words.
The identities of both children and – by extension – the accused are protected by a publication ban.
What should have been childhood laughter is now remembered through heartbreak. With tears in her eyes, Caroline Bartel, the five-year-old boy’s school teacher says, his presence filled the classroom with joy.
“He had the best smile, he had the best laugh. He loved to play chase outside in the playground and it was a joy to have him in the classroom,” Bartel said.
Mourners gathered with flowers and candles, many embracing as they shared memories and supported one another through collective grief.
Community advocates like Adanech Sahilie, who is also the director of Immigrant Outreach Society says, the pain extends far beyond one family.
“The mother is not doing well. We have to assign lots of people to be with her every night and during daytime, because she’s not eating, she’s not sleeping, she’s not really doing great. So, yeah, actually the entire community is not doing great,” Sahilie shared.
Police have charged the children’s father with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths.
The case has prompted reflection across Calgary about how communities respond to tragedy and support families facing crisis. Educators say the loss has affected far more than the immediate family.
“It’s not just the family who’s affected. It’s not just a particular ethnic or cultural group. It affects us all, and the only way that we will deal with this is if we all stand up and take a part,” Bartel said.
As mourners continue to grieve, community advocates are raising concerns about whether support systems designed to help families were strong enough — and whether warning signs may have been missed.
“I’m disappointed at the system overall. The support is not there. I can tell as an advocate, we have a broken system,” Sahilie said.
She says the tragedy has sparked renewed conversations about access to social supports and protections for vulnerable families.
But for many gathered at Friday’s vigil, the evening was less about answers and more about remembrance.
The loss is now shared across classrooms, homes and neighbourhoods — a community united in grief, determined to support one another while honouring two young lives gone too soon.
