People gathered at an oceanfront park in Lindsay, Ontario. Friday evening to remember a child who was found dead in a river earlier this week.
Hundreds attended a candlelight memorial in honor of Draven Graham in Riviera Park, near Colborne and Lindsay streets.
The 11-year-old boy with autism disappeared on the afternoon of June 12 and was found dead about 24 hours later in the Scugog River.
In the evening, people placed stuffed toys, balloons, and messages of support in a makeshift memorial growing in the park.
The community observed a moment of silence and threw flowers into the river.
One of Draven’s grandparents sang Amazing Grace, while another shared his memories of the boy, remembering his grandson as a “sweet little boy.”
Draven’s disappearance provoked a large-scale response, which saw police from various jurisdictions and volunteers searching for him on foot and by boat. They also used a drone, a helicopter and police dogs in their effort to find him.
The death of the child has renewed calls for the creation of an alert system for vulnerable people. To date, more than 68,000 people have signed the “Draven Alert” petition for “the disappearance of autistic and vulnerable children / people with special needs.”