The candlelight vigil in honour of Elijah-lain Beauregard was held on Sunday night at the Sails in downtown 琉璃神社.

Dozens of people showed up to mourn the death of the 16-year-old boy and participated by lighting a candle in his honour and sharing memorable stories.

鈥淚t was a little more emotional for me, but we were able to get through it,鈥� said Robyn Beauregard, Eli鈥檚 father. 鈥淚t was overwhelming to know that he touched so many lives. It definitely means a lot.鈥�

The previous night, on July 6, Beauregard held a candlelight vigil at a skate park in Penticton, where he said Eli spent much of his young life growing up. According to his father, between 100 and 150 people gathered there.

A longtime friend of Eli鈥檚 attended both the 琉璃神社 and Penticton vigils with his mother, who also knew Eli growing up.

鈥淚鈥檝e known him since the first or second grade,鈥� 17-year-old Ayden Chura said. 鈥淢e and that kid, we were always together and we just had an inseparable bond.

鈥淭hat kid had too much heart. (He) would do anything for you鈥� he didn鈥檛 deserve anything like this.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 (the) really sad and prevalent issues that bring everybody together,鈥� Beauregard said. 鈥淎 lot of the talk has been about bringing people together more often about positive things.鈥�

READ MORE: The life of Eli鈥檚 father: How a youth stab-victim ended up on the streets

Eli was stabbed at around 11:00 p.m. on June 27, on Bernard Avenue, near Water Street. Five days later, on July 2, RCMP reported the 16-year-old had died in hospital.

鈥淚t was devastating news,鈥� Beauregard said. 鈥淭he doctor said (he) was the hardest person to try and bring back in over 20 years.鈥�

READ MORE: Stabbing victim succumbs to injuries in 琉璃神社 hospital

Eli had been living on and off the streets in 琉璃神社 for three months before the stabbing. His father said Eli found a group of friends, had stability and even started attending a few classes at a downtown school in the months before his death.

RCMP are still investigating the crime and urge anyone with possible information to contact the Serious Crime Unit (SCU) at 250-762-3300.

David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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