By David F. Rooney
They came from all over town on Sunday — men and women seeking a moment of fellowship as they participated in that most poignant of ceremonies, the Hospice Society’s 11th Annual Snowflake Ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Park.
“It may be a husband, a wife, a child, a mother or father,” said Andree Rioux, the society’s executive director at the start of the simple ceremony. “It does not matter how long or short that person has left us. We want to honour them.”
And so they did. With prayers and tears participants wrote the names of those they wished to commemorate on large white snowflakes that were hung in the society’s tree at the park.
“This truly is a special place,” said Gary Sulz, adding that he is “forever grateful to the volunteers and members of the Hospice Society” for holding this annual ceremony.
Here are a few images of the ceremony, which was held beneath the cold, blue vault of heaven:
