LAC LA BICHE - Family, friends and strangers stood side-by-side at a candlelight vigil held along the shores of Lac La Biche lake on Sunday night to pay tribute to a young woman whose body was found inside a nearby home.
While RCMP have not released details about a heavy police presence at the lakeside home on Churchill Drive over the weekend, those at the vigil say Tytiana Janvier died there.
A crowd of more than 200 people took part in the quiet, hour-long gathering. Those who knew Janvier sang her praises and mourned her death. Those who didn't know the 21-year-old woman shared in the grief.
Holding flickering flames to the early evening sky, family members and friends said the young woman was a shining light who deserved better.
It won’t be the same, says Tavia Janvier, Tytiana's mother, who told Lakeland Today that she spent everyday right next to her daughter.
“She was my heart, she was my pride and joy. She was always there… I couldn’t go anywhere without her,” she said, wiping tears as she paused from speaking to embrace people who had come to the vigil.
Moving forward with life won’t be easy, but keeping her memory alive and knowing how much her life was shaped by her daughter is a memory Tavia will always keep in her heart.
“She made me laugh everyday. She was everything to me… She would never leave my side. I miss her, I wish I could bring her back,” she said.
Questions
Many in the crowd called for action from the media and police in reporting what happened to the young woman.
A police presence at a home began on Thursday, say witnesses. No information about the police presence was passed along to local media until Saturday evening.
RCMP have not released an official statement on the file. Responding to Lakeland This Week questions on Sunday, RCMP officials said only that a death had been confirmed at the location. They say the investigation is continuing, that next of kin have been contacted, and no charges have been laid.
Janvier's great auntie Shana Laboucane was one of the vigil's organizers. She hoped the gathering would help with the healing process.
"We need to set her soul free. She needs to go into the light," she said, admitting that the healing is difficult when there are so many questions left unanswered. "All we need is answers of what happened, who all was involved, and why did this happen to her."
So far, she said, the family has got no answers. She hopes they will come as the investigation continues.
"Hopefully we get it from the courts when whoever gets charged, whoever is responsible. All we are asking is for answers," she said adding that the family is going to continue asking the questions, for Tytiana ... and others. "We aren't going to let this go. It can't be let go. We can't let it happen to another young girl. It doesn't matter if they are native, white, whatever. It just can't happen to another innocent girl."
Looking onto a photo display of the young woman, backlit by dozens of candles, Laboucane said that although her great-niece's voice has been silenced, the vigil will serve as her message.
"I want everyone to know her face, and I want everyone to speak for her," she said.
Community support
Moving forward from the loss of a young community member is devastating, said Jason Ekeberg, the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1 vice-president. He also took part in the vigil.
“Everybody’s in shock about what happened. We're just in disbelief right now,” he said, turning to see candle-lit faces in the crowd. “It shows what kind of person she was. She was a beautiful soul, a young girl who loved everybody and she loved life.”
Any good that can come out of such a tragic situation, he said, should focus on sharing that same love and compassion for each other.
“Everybody needs to start loving each other, respecting each other, start caring for each other…the community needs support.”
During the vigil, RCMP and community peace officers maintained a perimeter around the home as the investigation continues. RCMP say an autopsy on the body is expected to be conducted later in the week. In the preliminary stages of the investigation, police officials said on Sunday they are not expecting to release further details.
