海角社区官网

These 26 tales from 海角社区官网the Good won鈥檛 bring back the dead, nor will they heal the physical hurt. But shining a light on those who responded to the chaos with courage and compassion may serve as an emotional balm for this city鈥檚 wounded soul.

Patrick Savoy: The pedestrian who chased the careering van

Patrick Savoy was on a walk near North York City Centre on Monday, soaking in the sunshine, when he saw the white van barrelling down the sidewalk.

He figured the driver simply didn鈥檛 realize he had mounted the curb and began screaming at him, chasing him, yelling at the driver to get off the sidewalk.

The van accelerated, and Savoy realized the driver was about to hit multiple pedestrians. He called 911.

鈥淚 thought it鈥檚 just a complete moron or maniac. I didn鈥檛 know that he had started up at Yonge and Finch.鈥�

When the van sped off, he turned back to help the victims 鈥� one of whom he later recognized as Dorothy Sewell, after seeing her photo in the media.

鈥淚 started talking to her, seeing if she was conscious, took her pulse,鈥� he said. Savoy was joined by Roula Massin, and the pair began performing CPR.

Savoy said police and paramedics arrived at quickly.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 say enough good things about the police and the fire (services),鈥� he said. 鈥淓verybody involved was really good.鈥�

Read more:

The ordinary Torontonians who tried to save lives and ease the hurt

鈥業t鈥檚 changed forever鈥�: Yonge St. and the road to recovery

The day Yonge St. became a war zone: How the van rampage unfolded moment by moment

Roula Massin: The school board employee who immediately began performing CPR

Roula Massin was walking back to her office building on Yonge St. around 1:20 p.m. on Monday when she heard 鈥渂ang, bang, bang鈥� and screaming. Trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, she immediately began providing first aid to victims of the rampage.

Once paramedics took over, the 海角社区官网District School Board employee wanted to know whom she had assisted. Two of the people she helped had identification with them, but one 鈥� a grandmother 鈥� did not.

鈥淎ll night I was thinking about her,鈥� Massin said.

She eventually recognized the woman as Dorothy Sewell, 80. Massin began to search for Sewell鈥檚 family, including a grandson living in British Columbia. On Wednesday night, her phone rang. The caller was from B.C.

鈥淚 told him that she went in peace, and that I was with her, and that I prayed for her. I assured him that I was with her,鈥� Massin said, adding that she is planning to meet the grandson in person when he comes to Toronto.

鈥淚鈥檇 love to hug him and say I was with her.鈥�

Massin said more people should know how to perform CPR. She鈥檚 been certified for 17 years, since she joined the school board.

鈥淓verybody should be aware of how you can save lives,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t should be mandatory.鈥�

Abdellah Massaoudi: The 鈥榬egular guy鈥� who used his belt as a tourniquet

Abdellah Massaoudi is a market analyst with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., which has offices at Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave. He was midway through his lunchtime walk when the van blasted through the intersection at Empress Ave.

鈥淚 was waiting for the light to change. That鈥檚 when the van struck people and I could see them flying in the air,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was going so quickly and it hit them very, very hard.鈥�

It was 1:26 p.m. Massaoudi tried to call 911, but the line was busy. He jumped into the street, toward the victims. An older woman with white hair and a blue jacket who was closest to him was injured and bleeding heavily.

鈥淚 think the van had run over her. Her legs were smashed. It was a very bad scene,鈥� he said.

A man was already crouched down beside the woman and cried out, 鈥淏elt, belt, belt!鈥� Massaoudi said. The man had cinched his own belt around one leg, using it as a tourniquet that he secured just above the woman鈥檚 knee. Massaoudi鈥檚 belt went around the other leg.

Another woman, who looked to be in her 30s, was lying about a metre away, drifting in and out of consciousness. Massaoudi, who is trained in first aid, went to her side. She was in pain, with injuries to her leg and stomach.

鈥淚 talked to her so she could stay awake. At the same time I鈥檓 keeping my finger on her pulse,鈥� he said.

A man who he thinks was the woman鈥檚 friend had suffered head injuries and tried to stand up, but Massaoudi shouted to those helping him to keep him on the ground until paramedics arrived, thinking he was probably in shock.

Paramedics, firefighters and police arrived quickly on the scene and took over. About 25 minutes later, Massaoudi was walking back toward work, dazed by what he had just experienced.

News of the carnage had not yet emerged. Back at the office, Massaoudi told a friend and the word spread. His manager offered him support and suggested he take the rest of the day off, but he opted to stay and keep his mind occupied.

鈥淚鈥檓 just a regular guy who, by coincidence, was there. Anybody who was there would do the same thing as me,鈥� he said.

Nana Agyeman-Badu: The taxi driver who ran to help a victim

Taxi driver Nana Agyeman-Badu had just dropped off a woman at 5444 Yonge St. when he saw the van driving south on the sidewalk.

At first he thought the driver might have had a heart attack or fallen asleep, but he caught a glimpse of him and said he seemed 鈥渟erious鈥� and was controlling the wheel. 銆�

He watched as the van struck a hydrant and two pedestrians without slowing down. Then, just north of Horsham Ave., the van hit a woman and knocked her into a bus shelter. 鈥淭he glass broke and fell onto her,鈥� he said.

Agyeman-Badu stopped his van and ran toward the woman, along with another bystander. Together they tried to clear the glass from her face and hands. She was unconscious but breathing, he said, so he started to perform CPR.

鈥淓very cab driver in this city knows how to do CPR,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 thought I could help in that situation.鈥�

At one point he saw a police car heading toward them, so he ran into the street and flagged the officer down. 鈥淗e said to me, 鈥楢n ambulance is coming, but where is the van?鈥欌��

Agyeman-Badu pointed south and then returned to the woman. A firefighter arrived, and the woman opened her eyes and started asking what had happened. Agyeman-Badu said he was relieved to see the woman was awake and able to speak. 鈥淏ut she didn鈥檛 know where she was or what happened to her.鈥�

Chris Moise: The school trustee who directed traffic so ambulances could get to the victims

海角社区官网District School Board trustee Chris Moise, a one-time police officer and former health-care worker, rushed out of the board鈥檚 offices on Yonge St. when he heard cries of horror.

He found a woman with a large stomach wound. Her body appeared 鈥渂roken鈥� and she was beyond help, he said.

Moise ran a metre or two to another woman lying on her stomach. He and a TDSB security officer carefully rolled her over and found she had a pulse.

鈥淪he still had her salad in her hand. She was (out) for lunch,鈥� Moise said, adding she was gravely injured. They began doing CPR.

Others came to help, so Moise started directing traffic to ensure emergency vehicles could get to the injured as quickly as possible.

The former St. Michael鈥檚 Hospital addictions and mental health counsellor doesn鈥檛 know what happened to the woman he helped. His TDSB colleagues are now coping with the aftermath of a tragedy on their doorstep. 鈥淲hat a terrible thing,鈥� he said.

Yigal Rifkind: The lawyer who ran from victim to victim

Yigal Rifkind looked outside his office window, seeing a van drive by and people running. When he went downstairs, he found a friend standing outside, and soon realized what had happened.

鈥淚 saw a body on the sidewalk, went over. It was instantly obvious that she was already dead,鈥� the lawyer said. 鈥淎nd we went up to three more and tried to help, but it was obvious that there was nothing we could do.鈥�

Rifkind said it was only once he got back to his office that what he had witnessed began to sink in.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 realize what an absolutely horrific and savage thing you just witnessed until you have a moment to think,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just saw four dead bodies, four separate murders.鈥�

To him, trying to help felt like the natural thing to do.

鈥淚f you saw somebody, anybody, on the ground, I feel like anyone would just do that.鈥�

Scotiabank: The bank branch that became a 鈥榗ommand centre鈥�

Right across the street from Mel Lastman Square, one of the scenes of carnage, the Scotiabank branch at Yonge St. and Hillcrest Ave. opened the doors to its glass-fronted building for police to use as a sort of 鈥渃ommand centre,鈥� an officer told the Star.

The bank confirmed the branch had been used by police. The space allowed investigators at the heart of the crash scene to co-ordinate the response.

Const. Corey Spencer-Anderson: The officer who held a bystander鈥檚 hand

One of the early images summing up the response to the carnage was captured by CTV 海角社区官网on Monday. It showed a young 海角社区官网police officer seated next to and holding the hand of a terribly shaken bystander.

鈥淭his moment right here,鈥� one Twitter user , taking a photo of the TV image and sending it out to the world. 鈥淭his is Toronto.鈥�

On Wednesday, 海角社区官网police Insp. Peter Moreira the officer as Const. Corey Spencer-Anderson of 54 Division, saying the tragedy had touched 鈥渁ll of 海角社区官网and beyond.鈥�

Red Cross 海角社区官网division: The team that quickly set up a support centre

Sunny Kler and her disaster management team at the Red Cross 海角社区官网region division were alerted and dispatched by the city to help. They were on the scene and setting up an evacuation and support hub a few blocks from the crash site within two hours.銆�

They made their home base at Mitchell Field Community Centre, on Church Ave., just east of Yonge St. They blocked off space in the centre for the rest of the day so that those who needed it could have a private, safe place to go and people to talk to.

Volunteer Malcolm Kendall said the day went fast, and was very different from what they do on a regular basis.

Kler and her team were also prepared to house those who might be evacuated from the area around the carnage. By the evening, the Red Cross team was fully operational and staffed by volunteers, some of whom were trained in providing individual support and counselling to those in need.

Konstantin Goulich: The dental hygienist who set up a memorial at Olive Square Park

Konstantin Goulich, a dental hygienist, came out of his condo at Yonge and Finch to find the road sealed off and two victims lying in the street, the dead covered where they fell.

鈥淚t was pretty horrific to see dead bodies lying in the streets that I walk by daily,鈥� he said.

He continued walking, finding more victims and witnesses in distress. He decided then that he had to do something.

鈥淚 went to a Dollarama. I picked up some bristol boards and some markers. I wanted to write something and I wanted to give people the opportunity to express themselves as well,鈥� he said.

He thought of setting up his markers and paper at Mel Lastman Square, but it was cordoned off by police tape. Instead he went to Olive Square Park 鈥� the only gathering place in the area that was accessible to the public.

He wrote his own message first, then invited others crowded around to share their thoughts and feelings. People were reluctant at first.

鈥淪ome people didn鈥檛 really speak the language. A lot of people were immigrants 鈥� so I had to encourage them to write something in their own language,鈥� he said.

The park, at the southeast corner of Yonge and Finch, has become a gathering point for vigils, group prayers and those expressing their condolences for the victims of the tragedy.

鈥淪omebody had to do something. We鈥檝e all been affected by this horrible event,鈥� Goulich said. 鈥淵ou cannot start the healing process, you can鈥檛 start approaching the problems without acknowledging what you feel.鈥�

Danielle Webb and Amelia: The mother-daughter duo who became the helpers to look for

Danielle Webb and her 3-year-old daughter, Amelia, live on Horsham Ave. near Beecroft Rd. Danielle鈥檚 father, Neal, visiting from Fort Frances, Ont., saw the devastation when he went out to the local supermarket at Yonge St. and Church Ave.

With Yonge St. closed and subway stations shuttered, rush hour on Monday came to their front lawn.

鈥淵ou could see it on their faces. People were exhausted, they were tired. There were some that were crying,鈥� Webb said. 鈥淚t was one of those moments where you couldn鈥檛 help what was happening on Yonge St., but you could help these people, so that鈥檚 exactly what we decided to do.鈥�

Little Amelia had recently celebrated her birthday and there was a stash of bottled water, juice boxes and granola bars left over from the party. Webb had baked cookies the previous night.

鈥淲e grabbed everything 鈥� fruit, snacks, everything 鈥� and we crossed the street and just started handing stuff out,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen we ran out of things, other local neighbours started bringing us waters. It was a community thing.鈥�

Webb added: 鈥淚鈥檓 a school teacher, and one of the things we tell kids when something bad happens is that you look for the helpers. I wanted Amelia to know that there are helpers out there and she could be one in a time of need. She thought it was fantastic.鈥�

The small gesture was warmly received.

鈥淎mazing Canada: This thoughtful couple with their adorable daughter offering water to people trudging along Beecroft Road, as Sheppard Station is closed due to the tragedy at Finch-Yonge,鈥� Yadullah Hussain, a journalist with the Financial Post, . 鈥淚 was a grateful recipient of their generosity. Thank you!鈥�

The post prompted a flood of gratitude.

鈥淕ood outweighs bad but it is sometimes hard to remember. Thanks for posting this & thanks to the people doing this,鈥� another Twitter user wrote.

Webb responded: 鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to help.鈥�

Dan Fox: The condo resident who urged buildings to open their doors

Dan Fox, who lives and works in the Yonge and Sheppard area, was out for lunch Monday when he saw the police cars and ambulances racing by. After he learned what happened, he said he was 鈥渟cared and shaken up,鈥� having walked up and down those sidewalks frequently.

He knew he wasn鈥檛 the only one panicking.

鈥淎ll these condo buildings, there鈥檚 a lot of people who live alone, and when something like this happens, people need to be together and comfort each other,鈥� said Fox, who lives alone on Bales Ave., just south of where the driver of the white van was arrested Monday.

鈥淎ll the street closures, the emergency vehicles around, it鈥檚 a kind of trauma.鈥�

After talking with a few of his close friends, Fox said they persuaded building management to sidestep the usual bureaucracy and open the condo鈥檚 common area. As soon as a sign went up by the elevators Monday evening, people started coming in. They ordered pizza.

鈥淭he mood was sombre and subdued. We were just there talking about what happened and how we were feeling,鈥� Fox said.

They鈥檝e gathered every evening this week, and watched the hockey game together Wednesday night. Fox and his friends have reached out to other buildings and condo boards in the area, asking them to keep their common spaces open.

鈥淭here鈥檚 still a lot of anxiety,鈥� he said.

Matthew Blackett: The magazine publisher who created the 鈥榊onge and Strong鈥� logo

Matthew Blackett lives in the west end of 海角社区官网and works in the downtown core, where he runs Spacing magazine and its retail store. But he grew up in Willowdale, near where Monday鈥檚 violence occurred, and his mother still lives in the area. Another staff member from the magazine was in the vicinity, visiting his parents, and missed the van by just a few minutes.

So Blackett was affected when he heard about the incident. When the casualties were tallied, he was stunned.

鈥淧eople have different ways of coping. Art and graphic design was mine,鈥� he said.

He designed the 鈥淵onge and Strong鈥� logo that began circulating on social media, a play both on 鈥淵onge and Finch鈥� and 鈥測oung and strong.鈥� He set the white letters, using a TTC font, against a Maple Leafs-blue background. It took him 10 minutes to create. He intended it to be something for his friends from the neighbourhood.

It took off quickly. By Tuesday, it had morphed into #YongeandStrong, one of several hashtag communities on social media. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley was using it, as was 海角社区官网MP Adam Vaughan.

Blackett spent part of the past week crowdsourcing translations of his slogan and designing fonts for more than a dozen different languages.

鈥淚nitially I was just thinking about Persian and Chinese and Korean because of that neighbourhood up there,鈥� he said. He鈥檚 also got versions in Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Hebrew.

Blackett is going to put the logo on buttons that he plans to sell at the Spacing store. Proceeds will go to the #TorontoStrong Fund for victims.

Korean Canadian Cultural Association: The group helping victims鈥� families coming from abroad

Almost from the start 鈥� before the full impact of the tragedy on the Korean community in and around Yonge and Finch was known 鈥� the Korean Canadian Cultural Association knew it would be required to step up.

鈥淲e worked together with the consul general of (South) Korea with the understanding that we would be ... on the front line, if you will 鈥� taking charge of the whole organization of this, along with other Korean organizations,鈥� said vice-president Will Cho.

鈥淪omething had to be done and we thought that this was the time, and so we鈥檙e getting the ball rolling,鈥� Cho said.

Two South Korean nationals were confirmed killed in Monday鈥檚 rampage. Up to three others are believed to have been injured. Without going into details about the numbers or identities, Cho said three people are international visa students.

The association has been busy co-ordinating with other groups in the 海角社区官网area, offering transportation to the families of victims arriving in Canada from abroad, arranging their stay in hotels, providing translators and offering professional counselling if needed.

鈥淲e鈥檙e all in this together,鈥� Cho said. 鈥淲e all want to partake and contribute as much as we can.鈥�

Entripy: The company that created #TorontoStrong T-shirts to support victims

When #TorontoStrong started trending online after Monday鈥檚 van rampage, Oakville-based clothing company Entripy felt it could do something to help those affected by the tragedy.

By Tuesday, the company had already designed and produced a prototype of T-shirts featuring a 海角社区官网skyline with the words #TorontoStrong.

Company spokesperson Lisa Evans said an external firm will be brought in to ensure all proceeds from sales of the shirts go to victims鈥� families. As of Friday, 鈥渨e have surpassed 1,000 T-shirts sold and have raised over $20,000,鈥� she said.

The goal is to reach at least $100,000.

Bruce Jones: The pastor who opened his church to mourners

Bruce Jones, senior pastor at Willowdale Baptist Church, was at home with his wife in Richmond Hill when the attack occurred. They stayed away from the area, on instructions from police.

They arrived first thing Tuesday morning to find the Olive Square Park memorial growing, just steps from their church.

鈥淧eople were starting to make the pilgrimage,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e knew that we were going to have to open our doors because we wanted to just simply be there to be a warm place and a warm cup of coffee, a Timbit, or what have you.鈥�

Those doors have been open every day since. A sign near the mountain of flowers at Olive Square tells mourners the church is offering 鈥渃offee, rest place, rest rooms, prayer, water.鈥�

鈥淚 think everybody is wanting to do whatever they can do,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a simple thing, but the simple things can make a difference.鈥�

Saint of Starbucks: The stranger who paid it forward

The grief had spread through Toronto, across the country and around the world by Tuesday morning. Twelve kilometres away from the site of the tragedy, a Starbucks customer decided to make a gesture of generosity.

One man took to Twitter to his gratitude.

鈥淭hank you to the stranger who bought coffee for everyone in line this morning @Starbucks at Laird and Wicksteed in #Toronto. A great reminder to be a little nicer to everyone today #TorontoTheGood.鈥�

Emily Fung: The volunteer in the 鈥楥itizen of Toronto鈥� sweatshirt

Emily Fung walked by the scene about 10 minutes after the van rampage, on her way to Finch station to get to an appointment.

She didn鈥檛 know what had happened and thought it was an accident. Maybe someone鈥檚 brakes had failed.

鈥淚 just saw people on the ground and ambulances rushing in,鈥� she recalled.

She was horrified to learn it was deliberate, according to police, and that so many had died.

She鈥檚 since been volunteering at Willowdale Baptist Church, 鈥渕anning the coffee鈥� and passing out water and cookies, clad in a black 鈥淐itizen of Toronto鈥� sweatshirt.

鈥淚 just love our community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know people are hurting.鈥�

Unnamed video journalist: The stranger who offered a hug when it was needed

On Tuesday afternoon, residents in the area gathered to share their stories and express their shock and grief.

An older woman was standing beside a video journalist who listened as she told a that she came across the crash scene when she decided to walk to Shoppers Drug Mart.

鈥淚t was so beautiful that I couldn鈥檛 be bothered getting my car, so I said, 鈥業鈥檒l do it tomorrow,鈥欌�� she said, before her voice wavered.

As she became emotional, the journalist 鈥� as if it was the most natural thing in the world 鈥� pulled her toward him and rested his head upon hers.

What he said isn鈥檛 entirely clear in the video, but it sounds something like: 鈥淚鈥檓 glad nothing happened to you.鈥�

鈥淚 know,鈥� she replied, 鈥渂ut my heart鈥檚 breaking. Thank you for the hug.鈥�

Dilmi De Silva: The youth group member who started a fundraiser for a victim鈥檚 6-year-old son

Along with members of the Lotus Youth Council, a Buddhist group, Dilmi De Silva, 20, started a for Diyon, the 6-year-old son of single mother Renuka Amarasingha, who was killed on Monday.

They started with the goal of raising $30,000. When they hit that target, they changed it to $75,000. By Saturday evening, the fundraiser had collected more than $315,000 in donations. The money will go into a trust fund for Diyon.

鈥淗e鈥檚 so young. Now he has enough funding for education,鈥� said De Silva, a student at the University of Toronto.

Donations have come in from across the country.

鈥淭his victim, she left behind such a precious child. I think that caught attention from everybody,鈥� said De Silva.

The blood donors who shattered records

The day after the van rampage, visitors to Canadian Blood Services鈥� College St. clinic shattered the donation target of 32 units, with a total of 63.

The next day, Wednesday, saw 70 donated units, far more than the target of 48.

The clinic at Heartland Town Centre in Mississauga has also seen a surge in donors.

鈥淲e鈥檝e definitely noticed an increase, especially at the three downtown 海角社区官网clinics,鈥� said Michael Betel, the agency鈥檚 director of donor relations, noting a particular increase in first-time visitors.

鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly grateful for current donors and the new donors who have come forward to help. People want to feel like they鈥檝e done something that they can control, to help.鈥�

Staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where many of the injured arrived and are being treated, urged people to donate blood. Canadian Blood Services did not.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard line to ride,鈥� Betel said. 鈥淲e need the blood for sure, and we want people to come in, but we don鈥檛 want to be seen as taking advantage of the situation either.鈥�

While a typical car crash victim requires 50 units of blood, the system was able to handle the added burden without strain. That would not be possible, Betel said, if healthy Torontonians did not step forward and offer to help.

鈥淲e do have those emergency situations that remind us that things can change in an instant,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou always need to be ready.鈥�

Future saviours: The residents signing up for CPR courses

The good works of bystanders at the scene who jumped in to perform CPR have prompted an increased demand for training, said Andrew Sekhavati of Coast2Coast First Aid and Aquatics.

鈥淲e do have actually a lot of people coming in and calling, asking for responder courses,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t seems like it is having an impact and everyone鈥檚 just kind of noticing, maybe we should know this stuff.鈥�

Nick Rondinelli, CEO of Heart to Heart First Aid/CPR, said he has also noticed an increase in walk-in visits, especially from ordinary people who don鈥檛 have any professional reason to take the training.

Sekhavati was inspired to organize a free CPR training in downtown Toronto, which he hopes to hold in the coming weeks.

Maria Vecchiarelluii and Laura Novello: The teachers who help their students heal with song

Dozens of students from St. Edward Catholic School gathered at Mel Lastman Square on Thursday morning to honour a Grade 7 teacher who鈥檇 lost her sister in Monday鈥檚 attack.

The students, including several with special needs, sang the prayer of St. Francis. Their teachers, Maria Vecchiarelluii and Laura Novello, said the song reflected a wish for peace and sent a message of acceptance across the city.

Vecchiarelluii, Novello and their co-workers had been helping the young students make sense of a tragedy that occurred just a few blocks away from the school. They said they received full support from their school and the board.

鈥淲ith kids, it is difficult when we鈥檙e dealing with these things 鈥� we want to make sure that they stay safe,鈥� Vecchiarelluii said. The group on Thursday ranged from grades 6 to 8, and included the Grade 7 students taught by Frances D鈥橝mico.

D鈥橝mico鈥檚 sister, Anne Marie, was killed in the attack.

鈥淭he students have had time to reflect on this, and they have been very strong and very brave. I鈥檓 just very proud,鈥� Vecchiarelluii said.

While they sang, their teachers paid attention to each student, noting if any became overwhelmed with emotion, and gauging when it was time to guide them back to school.

鈥淲e want to share the message of kindness,鈥� Novello said.

Buddy: The support dog offering a comforting nuzzle

Some needed to talk about the tragedy; others benefited from silent comfort. They got this from a group of St. John Ambulance therapy dogs. On Thursday and Friday, the bright-eyed pups wearing vests and kerchiefs offered warm nuzzles and a moment of peace for passersby shaken by the news.

Buddy, a nearly two-year-old golden retriever who loves sticks and car rides, has been working in the city as a therapy dog for about a year. He normally works with sick people, the elderly, and young students with disabilities.

On Thursday he comforted Marjan Iravani, who witnessed the carnage on Yonge St.

鈥淭hank you for all of their help. Thank you so much,鈥� Iravani said of the dogs, tears in her eyes.

鈥淒ogs communicate in non-verbal ways,鈥� said Buddy鈥檚 handler, Barbara Ruhr. 鈥淎nd they assume a lot of the stress.鈥�

Judy Rateau, a 海角社区官网District School Board employee, said the dogs help people forget the trauma they witnessed for a few minutes. 鈥淭his helps actually, so we can think of something else.鈥�

Centre Culturel Islamique de Qu茅bec: The mosque attacked in 2017, now raising money for 海角社区官网van victims

Members of the Quebec City mosque that was targeted in January 2017 by convicted killer Alexandre Bissonnette were stunned and re-traumatized by Monday鈥檚 rampage in Toronto. Even more so as some of the families of the mosque shooting victims had travelled to the GTA over the past year for events organized by local Muslims.

鈥淚t affects us enormously,鈥� said Mohamed Labidi, president of the Centre Culturel Islamique de Qu茅bec. 鈥淚t leaves me perplexed and asking so many questions: Will it repeat itself once again? It brings back the worry.鈥�

He said the families of victims will need support from their communities.

Labidi made a $100 donation to one of the online fundraising campaigns on Thursday, but Quebec City Muslims also sought financial contributions from the hundreds of people who attended Friday prayers at the mosque. The proceeds will be presented to the 海角社区官网victims, though the details have not yet been finalized.

鈥淲e are very sorry for the families of the victims,鈥� Labidi said. 鈥淭here is a sadness at the bottom of our hearts. We have lived through horror and know how much these moments hurt.鈥�

Darlene Saks: The customer doing a 鈥榯hank-you crawl鈥� of Yonge and Finch businesses

Pharmaceutical researcher Darlene Saks took to on Friday to say she was so moved by the kindness of Torontonians that she intended to do her part by paying it back.

鈥淭onight I鈥檓 going to do a thank-you crawl along Yonge and Finch to purchase items at businesses who did acts of kindness after Monday鈥檚 van attack,鈥� she wrote.

Among her planned purchases was pizza at Pizza Nova, where franchise owner Franklin Edishou took it upon himself to feed the first responders and emergency personnel. She also said she would buy flowers from Katherine Liu, co-owner of Secret Garden Floral & Gift Boutique, who put free bouquets outside for passersby to take, her attempt to make the world feel better on a dark day.