'God took them home': Vigil held in Thompson, Man. for children lost in house fire
A Northern Manitoba community continues to mourn four children who died in a house fire last week.
A vigil was held in Thompson this weekend to honour the lives of four children who died after a fire broke out in their home the evening of Oct. 26.
Shelly Thomas, her partner, and 13-year-old daughter were able to escape the blaze.
However Thomas's four younger children - all below the age of eleven - were trapped upstairs during the fire. They later died in hospital from their injuries.
On Saturday night, family, neighbours, and the community gathered to remember the lives lost.
"We've lost four little children, who had so much potential to help make a difference in our society," said Shirley Robinson, a cousin of the family.
"Unfortunately, God took them home," she said.
MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee was also at the vigil, "We will do our utmost to make sure that the family is supported, and that the questions that they are asking will be answered," he said.
Manitoba RCMP are still investigating the cause of the fire. Investigators have said that it does not look to be suspicious.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is also offering its condolences to the family.
In a news release, the AMC said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick shared her condolences to the Chiefs on the final day of the AMC Annual General Assembly. All in attendance stood for a moment of silence and prayer for the family and communities affected.
A donation basket was sent around, raising $1500 for the family. The AMC, Chiefs-in-Assembly, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, God’s River First Nation, and First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM) have all matched the donation.
The AMC said Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation will bring the money to the family to support them during this difficult time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Some BMO clients face outages in Canada, U.S.
Bank of Montreal clients on both sides of the border Thursday morning have reported outages for banking services.
NEW How car thefts are impacting your insurance, even if your car isn't stolen
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
'I'm not wealthy': Ontario senior shocked she owes $40,000 in capital gains after gifting land
An Ontario senior who wanted to help her daughter and grandson eventually own homes one day decided to give them two lots on her property as a gift—but she didn’t know it would eventually cost her tens of thousands of dollars.
opinion Trump's Republicans falling far behind in fundraising, infrastructure
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, Washington political analyst Eric Ham explains how and why Republicans -- up and down the ballot -- are falling far behind Democrats in both fundraising and infrastructure.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Canadians' interest in buying EVs fades as barriers, concerns remain: J.D. Power
A new study finds fewer Canadians say they're interested in buying an electric vehicle as concerns remain about limited driving ranges, high prices and a lack of charging stations.
McDonald's says US$18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.