
Vigil honours 'loveable' Belinda Sarkodie, as community gathers where she was killed in Hamilton
Standing on the roof of Jackson Square, the older brother of Belinda Sarkodie took time to share with a gathered crowd what his sister meant to him and his family.
"Belinda wasn't just my sister, she was my friend, my encouragement and one of the kindest souls I've ever known," said Richard Sarkodie, pausing at times as a family friend rubbed his back.
"It's hard to put in words the kind of pain our family is feeling right now. Losing her is something we will never fully understand, but even in our grief, we are proud of who she was and we are grateful for the time we had with her."
Belinda was waiting at a bus stop near James Street N. and King Street W. outside the mall when she was shot and killed on July 11. She had been out with a friend, grocery shopping at Nations, as she usually did on Fridays.
More than 100 people gathered on July 18 outside Jackson Square to remember the 26-year-old, who police have called an innocent bystander.
After speeches on the roof, the crowd walked down the stairs together, filling the sidewalk next to the bus stop where Belinda was killed. Some held flags from Ghana, where she was from, others laid flowers next to a picture of her. One person held a sign that read "stop the gun violence now!"
In addition to Richard, who lives in Manitoba, Belinda leaves behind her older sister and mother in Ghana.
'I just need justice to be served'
Belinda sought refuge in Canada as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in 2024. Her partner, Grace Nasiru, was one of the first people to find out about what happened after receiving a call from the friend that was with her.
"She's a very lovable person. She's so selfless," she told CBC News at the vigil on Friday, adding she was "devastated," to learn about what happened.
The pair met in Canada and worked together at the Hamilton airport alongside other Ghanaian women.
Hamilton police issued a warrant on July 13 for the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect in relation to the shooting, which left one other person injured.
Police said that at 5:25 p.m. ET on July 11, a "male suspect encountered a group" of three people near James Street N. and King Street E. who "appear to have been the intended targets."
As he was shooting, Belinda was struck. She was later pronounced dead on the scene.
"The only thing I ask myself is 'how was a teenager able to purchase a gun?'" said Nasiru.
"I just need justice to be served. It would give the family some peace of mind."
Belinda remembered as 'very kind' and 'cheerful'
The vigil had moments of prayer and song, but also quiet and anger.
Evelyn Aidoo, who Belinda regarded as an aunt, shared a message for the suspect at the vigil.
"You are a coward, so are your parents, your family members and anybody who knows where you are. You cannot take a life away and be hiding for a whole week," she said during a speech.
"Wherever you are, show up."
Belinda was "very kind," and "cheerful," Aidoo said at the vigil. That's how she wants people to remember her. "She was always laughing, always laughing," she said.
Both Aidoo and Richard said Belinda's family back in Ghana have been deeply impacted by the news of her killing.
"[Her] mom, up till now has not been able to say a word...She has people around her but she herself has not been able to say a word since the incident," Aidoo told CBC's As It Happens earlier in the day on Friday.
The Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario set up a GoFundMe, aiming to raise $40,000 for Sarkodie's funeral and to support her family.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
13 minutes ago
- CBC
NHL, players' union differ on eligibility of acquitted former junior players
The NHL released a statement on Thursday saying the behaviour of the former junior hockey players acquitted of sexual assault this week was unacceptable even if it was not found to be criminal. For the moment, they're ineligible to play in the league, but the players' union believes they should be able to resume work.


CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Suspect vehicle in fatal Lincoln, Ont., hit-and-run found burning in Mississauga: police
The suspect vehicle in a fatal hit-and-run that killed an 82-year-old man in Lincoln, Ont., last week was found burning in Mississauga, police said Friday. Police are now searching for a 50-year-old man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for second-degree murder, police said. On July 17 around 9:45 a.m., Larry Pearce, 82, was struck by a man attempting to steal his vehicle and exit the parking lot of Charles Daly Park in the Town of Lincoln, just west of St. Catherines, Niagara Regional Police Service said in a release last week. Pearce had been driving out of the parking lot when he was stopped by the man, police said. The two had an interaction and Pearce got out of his vehicle, a grey Honda CRV, before the man jumped in and attempted to drive off, police said. Pearce tried to stop the man but he was struck by the vehicle and fell to the ground, police said. He was rushed to hospital where he later died. Niagara police later identified the suspect as a 50-year-old man of no fixed address. As recently as Tuesday, police said they believed the suspect was still operating the victim's vehicle after he was spotted with his dog, a pit bull-style breed with white fur and black and brown markings, in Mississauga. On Thursday, Peel Regional Police said in a release that officers discovered the victim's stolen vehicle on fire in the area of 1875 North Sheridan Way in Mississauga. Investigators determined the vehicle had been driven into the green space off Springbank Road at approximately 8:20 p.m. Thursday, before it was intentionally set on fire, police said. "A lone individual was seen walking away from the area shortly thereafter," Peel police said in the release. Police have not yet located the suspect. Police are appealing to people in the area of North Sheridan Way, Springbank Road, and Sevenoaks Drive in Mississauga, who may have seen or heard anything suspicious between 8:10 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. on July 24, to contact investigators. Anyone in the area who may have relevant surveillance or dashcam video is also asked to come forward. Investigators do not believe the suspect is still with his dog, police said.


CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Winnipeggers call for crackdown on scrap dealers buying stolen metals
Social Sharing Some Winnipeggers are calling on the authorities to do a better job at enforcing laws meant to make it hard for thieves to sell bike parts and other scrap metal for money. The Scrap Metal Act requires buyers to keep records on transactions involving used items made out of copper, iron, steel and other metals. It came into effect in 2022 with a goal of cracking down on this type of theft, particularly when involving catalytic converters. But some advocates said Friday the theft of copper and other materials as well as bikes is still rampant. They say police should be ramping up enforcement to prevent people's property from winding up in a junk yard. "The theft of wire, theft of copper plumbing as well, from vacant houses is a serious, serious issue. It's a symbol of the deterioration of our city," said activist Sel Burrows. "We need to throw the book at that." Burrows, co-ordinator of the Point Powerline community tip line in North Point Douglas, said some scrap yards are part of the problem. "Everybody focuses on the front-line criminal, but we also need to look at who's buying stolen goods," he said. Winnipeg police urged to crack down on scrap-metal-related thefts 4 hours ago Bike and copper theft continues to be a problem throughout the city, despite provincial legislation that was designed to make it harder to sell the stolen goods, and there's a growing call for better enforcement. "These are businesses quite often, and they need to be held accountable. If there's no market for things like burnt wire, they won't steal and burn the wire." The Scrap Metal Act requires buyers to record every transaction involving scrap metal and keep the records for two years. They also must provide that information to police if asked. Winnipeg police said in a statement there are ongoing efforts to clamp down on metal theft, including "the involvement of vendors in the conversion process for financial gain." Metal theft 'a serious problem,' minister says Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the province is working with law enforcement to tackle the issue. "This is a serious problem," he said, adding that this type of theft puts peoples' lives at risk. "If you're stealing copper wire, it's dangerous," Wiebe said. "We know it's resulted in serious injuries and obviously impacts the community." Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said better enforcing the laws would discourage thieves from stealing bikes for their parts. "We know that that bikes are being stolen, sort of turned into scrap and sold for that," he said. "If that's your mode of transportation … having your bike stolen also really discourages people from riding." Cohoe said people should remember to register their bikes, so they have a chance to get them back if they're stolen.