Hundreds gather to support family after 9-year-old’s death

Family members sobbing over the sound of children drumming a song of healing.

Hugs between loved ones throughout the sea of people gathered to honour the life of a young child lost.

That was the scene Friday night on 33rd Street West in Saskatoon, at the candlelight vigil for a nine-year-old girl.

Baeleigh Maurice, known affectionately as “buggah” or “bug,” died Thursday after she was hit by a truck while riding her scooter.

Throughout the vigil, drumming groups sang and played their instruments while people shared memories of Maurice.

Tonight is a night “we need to hear the voices of children,” said the leader of the Mario drum circle @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/DJcTU5oT0T

— Libby Giesbrecht (@GiesbrechtLibby) September 11, 2021

A family friend said there was nothing Maurice loved more than being a big sister.

“She never had an ounce of hate in her,” her dad, Todd Maurice, recalled. “She wondered why there was hate, she wondered why people didn’t get along. She didn’t understand it … she’s so peaceful, she’s so smart, she’s vibrant.”

The community support kept growing to a few hundred people gathered on the blocked-off street Friday night. As the light on the street dimmed, more and more candles were added, creating a strong glow in the darkness.

Even more candles danced against a fence, where photos of Maurice were placed among stuffed animals and flowers.

Words of encouragement were said over the family.

“Richelle, she lived and breathed being a mother,” said a friend of Richelle Dubois, Maurice’s mother. “I watched her (Dubois) grow over the past however many years I’ve known her and I hope to be half the mother that she is.

“Richelle, she’ll always be with you.”

Verne Linklater was present to say a prayer over the crowd.

“Our fathers and mothers are meant to teach us,” he said. “We learn from them as children growing up. Sometimes we don’t know when we leave Mother Earth and go to the spirit world. The time she had here, Baeleigh, was not enough. “It’s going to hurt everyone. It’s going to hurt us forever.”