A relative of four members of a Muslim family killed last weekend says the outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike has helped him feel less alone in his grief.
The uncle of 44-year-old Madiha Salman spoke this afternoon at an outdoor service to pay tribute to her, her husband Salman Afzaal, 46, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Salman and Afzaal's 74-year-old mother Talat Afzaal.
He says the messages of comfort he and other relatives have received over the last week have marked ``a first step towards finding a way to heal'' as they grapple with sleepless nights and survivor's guilt.
The four family members died last Sunday night while out for a walk after a man in a truck drove them down in what police have called a premeditated attack because they were Muslim.
The couple's nine-year-old son, Fayez, was seriously injured and remains in hospital.
Pakistan's ambassador to Canada also spoke at the service, saying all of Pakistan stands ``shoulder to shoulder'' with those who lost their loved ones.