Calgary vigil for Paris shootings draws hundreds

About 200 Calgarians joined communities across the country andaround the world to send a message to attackers in the Paris shootings: you cannot divide us, we are together.

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Participants lit candles while speakers united to condemn the Friday shootings which took the lives of 129 people injuring hundreds more, many critically.

"It's great to see Calgarians of various ethnic backgrounds come together regardless of race and religion and showing support to France," said Iman Bukhari.

"We are together as a community supporting France."

Quais Amer's parents left Afghanistan in the 1980s and came to Canada through France.

He is concerned the attacks will change immigration opportunities for Syrians.

"It's hard to see that a lot of things are going to change because of these events," Amer said.

"I know the government has to do its job and properly screen everyone, but it's very unfortunate [because]these are life-changing events for everyone in the world."

An organizer with the Pakistani Canadian Cultural Association says Calgary is a wonderful, multicultural community so it's a good place to come together and send a message.

"We want to give a strong message to the terrorists that you can't divide humanity," Asjad Bukhari said.

"We are one humanity, one body."