A little boy who was killed, along with his mother and five other people in a north Edmonton home was being remembered Monday, as the Christmas holidays ended for his classmates.
Students were back Monday morning at Bishop Greschuk School after the Christmas holidays, but one space in a Grade 3 classroom remained unfilled.
Elvis Lam, 8, was one of seven people police said were shot and killed Sunday, December 28, in a home located on 83 Street and 180 Avenue.
In the wake of the tragedy, a number of resources were made available to students at the school when students returned to class Monday – including grief counsellors and a pet therapy dog.
“It’s really important that we provide support to our children this morning,” Joan Carr, Superintendent of Edmonton Catholic Schools said Monday. “We want to make sure that our children feel safe, that they’re loved, that they’re cared for and that we do everything we can to make sure they feel that for the days to come.”
The young boy’s classmates spent Monday morning making cards and writing messages for a prayer table in memory of their classmate.
“We have a prayer table set up for Elvis and the children will be able to share their memories and say a few words and just to be in the presence of their classmate,” Carr said.
Carr shed some light on the boy – she said after reading excerpts from his journal, Elvis loved school, and his family.
“[He was] just an extremely, a very bright young boy, very passionate about school,” Carr said. “He loved math, he loved science. He totally loved his baby sister, there were many stories about his baby sister in his journal.”
Police have said two children were spared, that the shooter, Phu Lam, 53, killed Elvis, his mother and five others – but saved the lives of Elvis’ little sister, and his young cousin.
Two other scenes were part of the same string of tragic events – Cyndi Duong, 37, was shot dead in her south Edmonton home Monday, before Lam fled to a restaurant in Fort Saskatchewan where he killed himself.
In front of the north side home, a memorial of flowers and stuffed animals continued to grow.
Grief counselling is planned for Monday, and Tuesday, and possibly longer. The school board is also sending a letter home to parents with guidance on how to help children cope with grief.
A funeral is planned for Elvis and five other victims Tuesday. A private funeral for Duong was held Monday morning.
With files from Laura Tupper and Breanna Karstens-Smith
