'No community should go through this': Vigil honours Saskatoon international student killed 1 week into job

The flickers of more than 100 candles illuminated a Saskatoon industrial area Tuesday night, as people gathered to remember the life of 23-year-old homicide victim Alfred Okyere.

The international student arrived in the city four months ago with dreams of a better life, but it was never realized.

Okyere took a part-time job earlier this month with a mining supply company in the city's north industrial area. Police say he was stabbed and killed at the workplace on Jan. 20. It was his first week on the job.

The community rallied together Tuesday to remember Okyere and honour his legacy.

"He was jovial, he was very hardworking," Augustine Farley, Okeyre's brother-in-law, said "He wanted to do something to help the people back home, he wanted to find his purpose in life."

Community rallies together

Okyere was born in Kumasi, Ghana. He was an active member of the Church of Pentecost in Saskatoon, participated in the Ghanaian community and would regularly care for his sister's children.

City officials, members of the Black and African communities, and other supporters showed up in waves to stand in solidarity with the family.

"No community should go through this," Marvin Ankrah, the secretary of the Ghanaian Association, said.  "This sort of torture, the trauma and all this stuff that we have to go through. I think that this vigil is very relevant to commemorate his legacy and what he stood for."

"This is a tragedy for all of the Saskatoon community, the Ghanaian and the Black community as a whole," Ward 2 Coun. Senos Timon said. "We are all here together and we feel this sorrow."

Now, the family is begging the justice system for help.

"His last words were 'help, help,' he shouted, he screamed," Farley said. "These are our words as well to the justice system. We say help, help us. Help us to understand why this is happening."

The family hopes that Okyere's story can start a movement to end workplace violence and create a safer community for all.

WATCH | Candlelight vigil for Ghanaian man stabbed on job in Saskatoon: 

Candlelight vigil for Ghanaian man stabbed on job in Saskatoon

1 day ago

Duration 3:17

More than a hundred people gathered outside the Saskatoon workplace where Alfred Okyere, an international student from West Africa, was killed on Jan. 15. A co-worker is charged with first-degree murder.

Accused due back in court next week

In a news release, Saskatoon police said they were called to the facility at 8 p.m. CST on Jan. 20.

"Upon arrival, police located a 23-year-old male victim suffering from stab wounds," the release said. 

"He was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead."

Troy Francis Leclair, 53, was charged with first-degree murder. 

Leclair appeared in court by phone Wednesday. His next scheduled court date is Monday.