Family mourns Calgary father killed on the cusp of graduation, meeting youngest son
CBC
A Calgary man killed in a restaurant shooting last month was remembered Tuesday as compassionate, caring and humble by his family, who say they are "completely overwhelmed with grief."
Temesgen Tesfatsion, 35, moved from Ethiopia in 2019 to Canada, where he was working hard to build a life and preparing for his family to join him.
He was set to graduate as a certified heavy-duty mechanic, his family said, and had bought a plane ticket home to celebrate his son's first birthday. It would be the first chance Temesgen had to meet his second child.
But in the early morning hours of Aug. 21, police were called for reports of gunshots at the Ambassador Restaurant and Bar on 17th Avenue S.E.
They found Temesgen, suffering from gunshot wounds, and tried to save his life. He died at the scene.
Police said earlier this month they believed the shooting was targeted, but Temesgen was not the intended victim.
On Tuesday, Temesgen's family said in a statement that his death was "senseless" — and they'd lost a devoted husband, son, brother, uncle and friend.
"I wish we were not doing this without him because this is his success, not ours," Temesgen's younger sister, Meron Tesfatsion, said at a celebration of Temesgen's life.
Behind her were photos of Temesgen in a cap and gown; it would have been the day of his graduation.
"But we are here just to honour him … [and] to let him know that it doesn't just stop there. We will continue what we can."
The celebration was held because Temesgen's family wants to show the world who he was, Meron said.
"I want people to remember my brother not as a person who died in a restaurant," she said. "He's more than that."
But Meron can't describe her brother in only a few minutes. She said Temesgen was a remarkable person — a role model for her and a father-figure for her children.
Yordanos Hadgu, a family friend, said he was also a brother to everyone.