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Hundreds of people gathered at a community vigil held in Calgary Wednesday evening to remember Parker, the 11-year-old boy who went missing in July before being confirmed dead last week.
The community vigil was held at Municipal Plaza outside city hall and featured a choir and speeches. It was set up to give people a chance to honour Parker’s life and to reflect on how Calgarians worked together throughout the search to try and bring him home.
- Watch the ceremony in the video above
“The search for Parker did not end the way that we all hoped it would, but that does not change the fact that so many of you showed up when your community needed you,” Ward 4 Coun. DJ Kelly told those gathered.
Parker, a non-verbal, autistic boy, disappeared from his specialized day facility on July 16. Thousands of police officers, trained searchers and volunteers spent nearly two weeks looking for him before police announced they had found his remains last week.
Kelly, who represents the area where Parker lived, helped to organize the vigil. He said the event was an opportunity to celebrate Parker’s life and to grieve together.
“Tonight is for the community,” he said.
Calgary Police Chief Katie McLellan also spoke at the memorial. She said in her 35 years of police service she had never seen a community response as dedicated as the search for Parker was.
“Parker’s story touched something very real,” she said.
“It reminded us how deeply we care about one another and how quickly complete strangers can come together when a family needs support.”
Mayor Jeromy Farkas echoed that sentiment, saying the city was “hurting together,” but adding that the search demonstrated the importance of coming together to support vulnerable children and their families.
“We choose to build a city where every child like Parker is safe, where every family is supported and everyone knows that they belong,” he said.
Becky Wilmott, a co-organizer of the vigil, said despite the tragic outcome, she hopes Parker’s case will help improve awareness surrounding the needs of neurodivergent children.
“Our belief is that he (Parker) will help shape the future for children with special needs, especially those with autism,” she said.
