Approximately 40 people braved the early signs of winter to gather outside a Winnipeg home to say goodbye to Christopher Dwight Beaulieu McIvor.
The 17-year-old was shot and killed in the same home early Saturday morning.
During Tuesday evening’s vigil family members embraced each other and shared stories of the boy affectionately known as Teddy.
(About 40 people gathered to remember Christopher “Teddy” McIvor in Winnipeg. Photo: Brittany Hobson/APTN)
For some it was too much to handle.
“My daughter Wanda is not here because she can’t believe that Teddy’s gone,” said Marilyn Davis, Teddy’s grandmother.
Davis said she gave her grandson the nickname Teddy.
She remembers him as someone who enjoyed hanging out with family and friends.
“Teddy was 17-years-old. He would have been 18 in April. He had siblings. He had a life,” she said while holding back tears.
The family said the teen was in the care of child and family services at the time of his death.
They are calling for an inquest into the circumstances around his death given he was in care.
“He was not protected. You think that when children go into care they’re safe,” said Davis.
“I thought my Teddy was safe.”
Alaya McIvor planned the vigil and is a family member. She says they are struggling to understand what happened.
“There’s questions we need to ask and we need answers, too, moving forward,” she told the crowd.
“One of the questions I want to ask is how did this young Indigenous man get to this location while he was in the care of child and family services? Where was his foster family?”
Family don’t believe Teddy was living at the home where he was shot.
Winnipeg Police charged a 15-year-old boy with manslaughter among other offences.
Police say the accused and the victim knew each other and don’t believe it was a targeted shooting.
A funeral is planned for this weekend.
Our children are not safe anywhere, foster homes are not safe places to be. Some have kind caring loving foster parents. But most sad to say, look at our child as dollar signs and that’s how they making a living. Our children need to be on the reserves where they know Thier surroundings. 🙁 I feel sad for the family and friends of precious (Teddy) sending my prayers.
Our children are not safe anywhere, foster homes are not safe places to be. Some have kind caring loving foster parents. But most sad to say, look at our child as dollar signs and that’s how they making a living. Our children need to be on the reserves where they know Thier surroundings. 🙁 I feel sad for the family and friends of precious (Teddy) sending my prayers.
It’s a shame he wasn’t with his family. He might still be alive.
It’s a shame he wasn’t with his family. He might still be alive.