'A preciousness of time': Deaths of Toronto family leave bittersweet lesson for New Year
Shanifa Nasser | CBC News | Posted: January 1, 2017 3:51 AM | Last Updated: January 1, 2017
Toronto's Riverdale community paid tribute to a couple, 2 sons who died on Christmas Eve
How to make sense of a senseless tragedy?
That's the question that loomed over hundreds who gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember a Toronto family of four killed in a cottage fire on Christmas Eve exactly one week ago.
"It's really hard to understand why this kind of thing happens and what kind of lessons are there," said Montcrest School head David Thompson, who spoke at the memorial.
Montcrest was among the many friends and neighbours who assembled, with candles and hockey pucks in hand, at Withrow Park in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood in honour of Geoff Taber, Jacqueline (Jacquie) Gardner, and their sons Scott, 15, and Andrew, 13.
- Toronto family killed in cottage fire mourned by friends, neighbours
- 'Christmas tragedy': Cottage fire victims believed to be Toronto lawyer couple and 2 sons
- Toronto Titans hockey team honours Andrew Taber, teen who died in Christmas Eve cottage fire
The family, along with their two dogs, died when flames broke out at their cottage near Peterborough, Ont, in what provincial police called a "Christmas tragedy."
That's left many, including friends of the boys, trying to come to grips with the loss, Thompson said.
"I really have to come away with the sense that there's a preciousness of time and a preciousness of family and that's what the Tabers have left us with... and hopefully that's what we all take away for 2017."
'An outpouring of love'
Taber and Gardner were both respected Toronto lawyers. Scott had graduated from Montcrest just two years ago and Andrew was set to graduate this year, Thompson said. Both were avid hockey players.
"The Taber family was very, very involved in the school, so it's a real deep loss for us," Thompson said. "There's really a profound sense of sadness that's come over the community."
Sunday's vigil was originally to be held at the family's home, but was moved to the park after what organizers called "an outpouring of love and support" from the community."
So far, neither police nor the provincial fire marshal have released the cause of the blaze. Wayne Romaine, a supervisor with the Ontario Fire Marshal, told CBC Toronto this week that investigators were looking at the heating systems and whether any candles had been used in the home.
As news of their deaths emerged, tributes from their friends and colleagues began pouring in online, including from Taber's cycling group, the Riverdale Riders.
'They found the best in everybody'
Taber last rode as part of the group on the Friday before Christmas Eve, member Gordon Cheong told CBC News, saying he wanted to get one more bike ride in before 2017.
On New Year's Eve, fellow member Heather Miller was among the mourners, bringing with her a bicycle wheel-turned-tribute to Taber, plastered with photographs and messages in honour of him.
Miller recalled fondly sharing early morning sunrises with Taber as the group cycled before the crack of dawn, and hearing stories of his and Gardner's boys. Taber was always conscious of the time, Miller said, and didn't usually like to stop.
But on one ride just a few weeks before the fire, he, Miller and a few other riders stopped in their tracks to take in what she described as "the most incredible sunrise."
For their part, faculty at Montcrest School will be meeting before term starts again in January, said Thompson, and will be planning a memorial for the boys and their parents in the coming weeks as the community there continues to try to make sense of the loss.
Thompson says the boys will be best remembered for their kindness, generosity and graciousness — something he says they passed on to their friends as well.
"That was something the parents really instilled in the boys... They found the best in everybody."