'She will continue to live on': March in west Saskatoon honours Baeleigh Maurice

A crowd of blue shirts marched across Saskatoon's west side to the beat of drum music.

People gathered along 33rd Street West to honour the life of nine-year-old Baeleigh Maurice on Saturday. Maurice was riding her scooter on the street in 2021 when she was struck and killed by an alleged impaired driver.

Three years later, the community is determined to keep her spirit alive.

"In the end, all we want is justice for Baeleigh," said Rhane Mahingen, Maurice's aunt. "And not even that, but for her life to be remembered for what she could have done and what she has done for this community."

WATCH | The complicated trial of a Sask. driver who fatally hit a young girl while allegedly high on drugs: 

The complicated trial of a Sask. driver who fatally hit a young girl while allegedly high on drugs

8 months ago

Duration 2:36

A Saskatoon driver accused of impaired driving in a child's death is back in court and her case is complicated. Taylor Kennedy is on trial for hitting and killing 9-year-old Baeleigh Maurice, who was using a crosswalk on her way to school, while allegedly under the influence of THC. Here's a breakdown of what's happened so far.

The young girl's death has sparked a larger conversation in the city about pedestrian safety.

The family advocated for the installation of a crosswalk in the area Maurice was hit. The crosswalk is blue in her honour, the only one of its kind in Saskatoon.

"Thirty-third is, as we all know, a dangerous street, not only for where Baeleigh was hit, but for numerous other places along this road where accidents have occurred," said Mahingen.

"Children cross here every day, especially on their way to Mayfair school. That's why this crosswalk is so important, so no other children can be taken away from us before their time."

The march began at the crosswalk and went for a few blocks, eventually leading to Maurice's favourite park.

The community donated food for a feast in the park. There was more drumming and the burning of sweetgrass.

"I see the blue everywhere and the hugs that are happening," said Krista Fox, a local advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous people. "It's good for the soul."

The driver, Taylor Kennedy, has been charged with impaired driving causing death.

Court proceedings began last October. 

"We need to keep showing up," said Fox. "There's no better feeling as a family [than] turning around and seeing a courtroom packed with people who are there supporting them."

The case is scheduled to resume in December.