Memorial barbeque - Saturday, September 28: Community rallies around family of murdered teen Tahj Loor-Walters

TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - The community of Jane and Finch has rallied around the family of slain teen Tahj Loor-Walters and has organized a memorial barbeque and fundraiser in his honour.  The organizing group includes the extended family of Loor-Walters, church officials, community organizations, teachers, municipal officials and a labour union.

The event will commemorate the life of Loor-Walters and raise money to support initiatives to end gun violence, improve education, services and support networks for teens and families in the area.

Loor-Walters' mother Symone Walters said that she will not stand for being pushed out of the neighbourhood by violence and fear.

"This is my home and I don't want to be made to leave," said Walters. "Why must we leave our neighbourhood where we grew up just so we can be safe and our children free from harm? We have to make changes here - so that families and children have access to opportunities and don't live in fear."

Instead of leaving, the family of Loor-Walters has pledged to work to make improvements in the neighbourhood.

The barbeque fundraiser event will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2013, starting at 1 p.m., until 7 p.m. Speeches will start at 3 p.m.

Unifor Local 112 Hall - 30 Tangiers Road, Toronto Ontario.
Members of the media are welcome.

Speakers will include:

Eliana Conte, aunt of Tahj Loor-Walters
Nicola Wright, aunt of Tahj Loor-Walters
Councillor Anthony Perruzza, Ward 8
Councillor Maria Augimeri, Ward 9
Kaneka Watkins, youth worker, Success Beyond Limits
Francis Atta, Knowledge and Effort Yield Success
Barry Rieder, United Church pastor
Jerry Dias, Unifor National President

Tickets will be $10 each or $5 for students. All funds raised will go towards supporting initiatives to end gun violence, improve education, services and support networks for the area.

Background:
Tahj Loor-Walters, 15, was a student at Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School. He was shot on July 28 and later died in hospital on August 13.  He was the second of four teens to be gunned down in the neighbourhood in less than six months. Others include St. Aubyn Rodney, 15, who was shot and killed on February 11, 2013; O'She Doyles-Whyte, 16 and Kwame Duodu, 15, who were both killed on August 23, outside of a local housing complex.

SOURCE: Community of Jane and Finch

Eliana Conte, aunt of Tahj Loor-Walters (cell) 647 980 6776
Roland Kiehne, Unifor Local 112 President (cell) 416-801-1120
Or visit the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/586906541375560/