The candlelight vigil in honour of Elijah-lain Beauregard was held on Sunday night at the Sails in downtown Kelowna.
Dozens of people showed up to mourn the death of the 16-year-old boy and participated by lighting a candle in his honour and sharing memorable stories.
乌鸦传媒淚t was a little more emotional for me, but we were able to get through it,乌鸦传媒� said Robyn Beauregard, Eli乌鸦传媒檚 father. 乌鸦传媒淚t was overwhelming to know that he touched so many lives. It definitely means a lot.乌鸦传媒�
The previous night, on July 6, Beauregard held a candlelight vigil at a skate park in Penticton, where he said Eli spent much of his young life growing up. According to his father, between 100 and 150 people gathered there.
A longtime friend of Eli乌鸦传媒檚 attended both the Kelowna and Penticton vigils with his mother, who also knew Eli growing up.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e known him since the first or second grade,乌鸦传媒� 17-year-old Ayden Chura said. 乌鸦传媒淢e and that kid, we were always together and we just had an inseparable bond.
乌鸦传媒淭hat kid had too much heart. (He) would do anything for you乌鸦传媒� he didn乌鸦传媒檛 deserve anything like this.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 (the) really sad and prevalent issues that bring everybody together,乌鸦传媒� Beauregard said. 乌鸦传媒淎 lot of the talk has been about bringing people together more often about positive things.乌鸦传媒�
READ MORE: The life of Eli乌鸦传媒檚 father: How a youth stab-victim ended up on the streets
Eli was stabbed at around 11:00 p.m. on June 27, on Bernard Avenue, near Water Street. Five days later, on July 2, RCMP reported the 16-year-old had died in hospital.
乌鸦传媒淚t was devastating news,乌鸦传媒� Beauregard said. 乌鸦传媒淭he doctor said (he) was the hardest person to try and bring back in over 20 years.乌鸦传媒�
READ MORE: Stabbing victim succumbs to injuries in Kelowna hospital
Eli had been living on and off the streets in Kelowna for three months before the stabbing. His father said Eli found a group of friends, had stability and even started attending a few classes at a downtown school in the months before his death.
RCMP are still investigating the crime and urge anyone with possible information to contact the Serious Crime Unit (SCU) at 250-762-3300.
David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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