Afzaal family's legacy lives on in special mural to mark 1 year since London, Ont., attack

A year ago today, London, Ont., and the world were shocked to learn a vehicle attack on the Afzaal family while they were out for a walk had left four of them dead.

Now, some of those closest to 15-year-old Yumnah Afzaal have created a mural inspired by her love of art in a project that has helped them heal. It will berevealed later Mondayat thesite ofthe attack, at the intersection ofHyde Park Road and South Carriage Road.

Yumnahwas the artist behinda mural of her own the summer before the Grade 10 student, her parents,Salman Afzaal and Madiha Salman, and her grandmother, Talat Afzaal,were killed in the June 6, 2021, attack thatpolice have said was motivated by hate. Yumnah's brother, nine years old at the time, survived.

The man charged with murder and related terror offences is expected to go to trial in 2023.

In the meantime, people in London are doing their part to honour the Afzaalsonthis first anniversary while raising awareness about Islamophobia.

Aya Abdul Hamidsaid her friend Yumnah'soriginal mural was a way for herto leave her legacy at the London Islamic School, where she'd studied and her creation now has a home.

Aya said she got involved inthe new art project as a way to continue Yumnah's legacyand "leave a statement of the family."

"It's definitely been a way of healing after it happened," said the 16-year-old. "As someone who is young ... you can never be prepared for something like this in the way that it came and how sudden it was."

Ayasaid "continuing on what [Yumnah] probably would have wanted to continue on" also helped in thehealing process.

A community effort

The new muralis a collaboration with family and friends of the Afzaals, as well as:

• Muslim artistWajeha Chams.
• Indigenous artistMike Cywink.
• The Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration.
• The City of London, whichfunded the project.

Another of Yumnah's close friends, Huda Sallam, whowas involved in the mural project, said sheoffered her opinions and "emotional support" toYumnahwhen she was working on her original mural. Hudaalsotried to bring Yumnah's artistic sensibilities to the new piece.

"I definitely tried to see it from her eye," explained the 15-year-old.

Huda said she hasn't been able to go to the intersection where the attack took place, but the mural may change that.

"Having something as beautiful as that sitting there, I think it'll be easier for me to go back every now and then and just kind of remember her.

"And I think that a lot of the friends and families are going to get together at some point to go and just sit there and just, you know, remember how this mural came about, and have those memories and thoughts within it."

The mural's unveiling is part offive days of events, which started Friday and end Wednesday, that were organized. They also include a vigil, a march and workshops.

Ayahopesthe mural will help people seehow the family lived instead of how their lives were taken away.

Shealso stressed that the Afzaals were much more than a family who were killed because of their religious beliefs.

"The whole family was just such a peaceful family, so calming and I feel like they were so understanding and so generous in the way they were and the way they carried themselves as humans. And I know their parents raised Yumnah and [her brother] very well. Very, very well."