The mother of the 22-year-old first-year business student managed to get a message across to one of the leaders of the Sarnia Sikh Society.
The mother of Gurasis Singh, the international Lambton College student police say was stabbed to death by a 36-year-old man who lived in a shared rental house with him, was so upset she had a hard time talking to Mani Kalsi.
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But the mother of the 22-year-old first-year business student managed to get a message across to Kalsi, one of the leaders of the Sarnia Sikh Society.
“His mother said to me that, ‘His soul will not rest in peace until he gets justice,’” Kalsi said Thursday. “So, that’s what we are fighting for.”
That fight will start with a candlelight vigil set for Saturday from 3 pm to 5 pm at London and Murphy roads, one of the busiest intersections in the city and close to the society’s Sycamore Drive temple.
Kalsi said a group of Lambton College’s international students were considering a protest Monday, the day after Singh was found dead inside 194 Queen St. following an altercation in the kitchen. But she called them instead to gather at the temple, pray for Singh’s soul, and come up with a new plan: Saturday’s vigil.
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Kalsi also sent a written statement Thursday from the society, which says they’ll be gathering in sorrow and solidarity to honor Singh, whose journey to build a brighter future ended in tragedy.
“This is not just the loss of a young international student; it is a blow to our collective humanity. We urge everyone in Sarnia to come together to mourn, reflect, and work toward creating a safer, more positive community where such tragedies never happen again,” it says.
Some on social media have pointed to racism in the wake of Singh’s death, although Sarnia police, including its chief, have repeatedly said they don’t believe race was a factor.
In addition to the vigil, Kalsi said they’re also raising funds for Singh’s family. See you again GoFundMe page has been launched by Singh’s cousin – a different page posted earlier this week turned out to be a scam – to assist.
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“They spent all their money to send this boy to Sarnia,” Kalsi said of his parents. “That’s why we’re doing a fundraiser for him, even though Lambton College is helping, but we would like more.”
Jami Kloet, a Lambton College spokesperson, said Thursday by email repatriation services are included in an insurance policy that is mandatory for all international students. Tuition reimbursement also is part of the protocols they have in place when a student dies.
“Our entire college community is experiencing deep heartache. We are all devastated by what happened to Gurasis. Our sole focus is on supporting Gurasis’s family, our students and our employees in every way possible,” she wrote.
A request for an interview with college president Rob Kardas was declined.
“We won’t be engaging in any conversations that don’t serve Gurasis’s memory, his family, and the many others impacted by this unspeakable tragedy,” Kloet said.
Crossley Hunter, the 36-year-old man charged with second-degree murder, is expected to appear in court Friday by video link from the Sarnia Jail.
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