Genevieve Segu was relieved to learn that her friends and family members are safe in France.
The Barrie woman, who emigrated in 1996, organized a silent gathering at Barrie City Hall on Saturday, to honour the victims and all residents of Paris, as the impact is felt worldwide.
"This is just devastating. I am alone here. All of my friends and family are over there still. I've been thinking about them and I needed something to do so I did this."
She was joined by a dozen friends and strangers who also have close ties to people in Paris.
Chantal Sirois brought her daughter Brigitte Sirois-Roffey. They were both moved to tears during the silent vigil.
"I have a cousin in France, right in Paris and not far from where everything happened," she said. "I know that she is OK, but we want to support all of the victims of these attacks."
Those who have connected with loved ones through social media or phone calls say they are still in shock.
"They are hiding in their houses and just trying to cope the best way they can," Segu explained. "The people who were killed were just innocent They were out for a drink, or for a bite to eat. That's the hardest part. It could have been anyone."
Joining friends at city hall in Barrie today was "cathartic" for Segu, who says she feels helpless and far away from her family. She called the Friday attack "Strike 2", following Strike 1 which was the deadly attack in January at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper office in Paris.
"That was a newspaper that I read as a kid and so it was horrible to see, very emotional for everyone.
"It's just too much," she said. "I'm more angry with this one because of who the victims were."
While the crowd was small in Barrie, participants felt hopeful and supportive as they hugged and shared thoughts about the terrorist attacks.
"We can't live in
fear here or anywhere else," Segu concluded. "Right now, there is so much shock in Paris, but maybe the normalcy wil resume in a couple of days. We can hope."
