Laval high school students grapple with death of classmate

Studentsin Laval huddled in the coldoutside their high school onFriday morning, sharing hugs and tears after a fellow schoolmate was found deadjust steps away from the building.

One friend said she was always there for her. Another said he will always remember her smile.

The body of AthenaGervais, 14,was discovered in a stream behind colePoly-Jeunesse.

An autopsy indicates her death was an accident,Laval police said.Spokesperson StphanieBesharasaid alcohol may have been a factor.

"We're studying all possibilities, but it's really the toxicology report that will help us understand if she consumed alcohol, what she consumed and in what quantity," she said.

The girl's body was recoveredlate Thursday afternoon in a stream behind colePoly-Jeunesse in Fabreville, in northwest Laval.

Shewas lastseen alive on Monday, leaving the schoolat lunchtime. She didn't return to school in the afternoon, and she never showed up at home later.

Her body was found by a firefighter a day after investigators set up a command post near the school.

The school board decided to keep the school open on Friday to be able to offer students and staff support, saidJean-PierreArchambault, a spokesperson for the Commissionscolairede Laval.

"We put all the alternatives on the table, but it became obvious to us that we had to open the school," Archambaultsaid, adding social workers are on hand to help.

Students and staff have been collaborating with investigators, he said.

Once the cause of her death is determined, the school will consider what measures to put in place to prevent it from happening again, he said.

Couche-Tard pulls potent alcoholic drink off its shelves

Convenience store chainCouche-Tardannounced Fridayit would be pullingthe potent alcoholic drink FCKD UP fromits shelves.

The statement said the decision was made following recent events in the hours prior.

"AtCouche-Tard, we ensure at all times that the customer is old enough to buy the product. Our policies are very strict," the statement reads.

On Friday evening, Geloso Group, the beverage company behind FCKDUP, announced it would consider going so far as to pull those types of products.

One can of FCKD UP contains an alcohol content of 11.9 per cent.It wasavailable for sale at aCoucheTardnear cole Poly-Jeunesse.

"The death of Athena Gervais is a tragedy," the statement from Aldo Geloso, co-president of Geloso Group,reads.

The company said it would conduct a complete overhaul of its marketing for the beverage.

On Saturday, GelosoGroupepulled about 60 of its bus shelter advertisements in Montreal, Gatineau,Trois-Rivires and Saguenay.

A promotional video for the beverage featuring Quebec hip hop group Les Anticipateurswas also taken off YouTube.