Nine years ago, on Jan. 29, 2017, Quebecers were shocked to learn about the mass shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec (CCIQ), which killed six Muslim Quebecers and injured 19. Every year since, in conjunction with a citizens’ group, the local Muslim community has held a vigil in honour of the six victims, their families and the survivors.

This year, the Ville de Québec held an invitation-only ceremony at the Édifice Andrée-P.-Boucher, the former Sainte-Foy city hall, a few blocks from the mosque. Several elected officials and faith leaders attended, including federal MP for Louis-Hébert Joël Lightbound; Montmorency MNA and minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region Jean-François Simard; and CCIQ cofounder Boufeldja Benabdallah, who is a constant supportive presence for the community. Participants, including members of the media, were asked not to take photos during the ceremony.

“It is unspeakable violence that has devastated families, devastated our community, and cut short the lives of men, citizens and fathers in the midst of prayer,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand. “My job as mayor is to ensure that everything we do contributes to building a community where everyone here feels at home, whether they are born in Morocco, Peru or the Philippines.”

The ceremony honoured the memory of the six victims: Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzeddine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thabti. It also presented a community that has learned to live in their absence and build on the outpouring of solidarity in the attack’s aftermath.

“My six brothers who were murdered and the 19 of us who were physically injured were simply praying when we were attacked,” said survivor Aymen Derbali, who was shot seven times. “I’m 49 years old, and I’ve spent more than half my life in Quebec City. I don’t plan on moving, even after this tragedy. I continue to pray in the same mosque.” His speech received a standing ovation from the 150 attendees.

“It is important to remember those who fell by the bullet of hate,” said Maryam Bessiri, a cofounder of the citizens’ commemorative committee who has taken part in every vigil since 2017. “It is even more important to allow space and moments for discussion on heavy topics, like Islamophobia, racism and terrorism.” Over the next two days, the CCIQ did just that. On Jan. 30, the documentary La Mosquée : Une communauté menacée, retracing the attack and its aftermath, including the trial and conviction of the lone gunman, was presented at the mosque, followed by a panel discussion and prayers.

On Jan. 31, the CCIQ held an open house. Between prayers and three panel discussions about the importance of unity, visitors toured the CCIQ and learned more about Islam. This three-day event ended with a communal couscous dinner and prayers.

Since the attack, according to the documentary, the CCIQ has had to increase its security with surveillance cameras and renovate the mosque to help restore members’ sense of safety.