Vigil planned for family of 4 who died near U.S. border in Manitoba

An online vigil for a family of four who died attempting to cross the Canada-U.S. border near Emerson, Man., has been planned for Friday night.

A vigil for a family of four who died attempting to cross the Canada-U.S. border near Emerson, Man., has been planned for Friday night.

On the night of Jan. 19, the family was part of a larger group of Indian nationals who were allegedly brought to Manitoba as part of a human smuggling operation. The four apparently became separated from the group in blizzard-like conditions and -30 C temperatures and died of exposure to the elements.

The family was identified by RCMP as Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, a 39-year-old man; Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, a 37-year-old woman; Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, an 11-year-old girl; and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, a three-year-old boy.

Priyanka Singh of the India Association of Manitoba — one of the local groups organizing the vigil — told 680 CJOB the tragedy has had a big impact on the local Indian community.

“We all have read about these things happening, but this one hits very close to home,” she said.

“The community is very shocked, the community is in mourning.

“It looks like they have no family here in Canada, so this multi-faith vigil which is being organized to mourn the deaths of this family is basically to remember them and remember that their lives had meaning and importance.”

Singh said the tragedy has brought a number of issues into focus — particularly the need to look at ways to make sure migration is done safely and legally.