After one year of grieving, Quebec City mosque undaunted in quest to build tolerance

Sitting in the room where their year of sorrow began, widows and relatives of the six men killed in the Quebec City mosque attack offered their thanks to those who helped them cope since the tragedy.

Their message came as theIslamic Cultural Centre opened its doors to the public on Saturday evening, one of several events taking place over the weekend to mark the first anniversaryof theJan. 29thshooting. An interfaith ceremony will be held Sunday at thePavillonde laJeunesse, starting at 7 p.m.

Saturday's open house allowed people to view thousands of messages, drawings and cardsthe mosque has received over the year.

Those who suffered most from the attack said this show ofsolidarity, which poured in from acrossCanada, helped them cope with thedeaths of their loved ones.

"You can't know how much the showof support, solidarity and affection helped us get through this difficult time," saidIdiatouBarry, wife ofMamadouTanouBarry.

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Aboubaker Thabti's wife, Khadija, said the pain of seeing her two young children growup without their father was lessened by the tremendous outpouring of sympathy.

"Today I'm thinking about them and their future," saidKhadijaThabti.She added: "That's why I'm calling for solidarity in supporting us, and to accompany us in our new reality."

Reliving the attack

Most of the traces of the shooting have been removed from the mosque, which is located in the Quebec City suburb of Sainte-Foy.

The carpet, once soaked with blood, has been cleaned and pockets of it replaced. The walls have been given a new paint job.

But a bullet hole in a bathroom door, where someone hid during the shooting, was left unrepaired a reminder of the tragedy.

For those who were present at the mosque that night there is, of course, little danger of ever forgetting what happened.

Among those who attended Saturday's event was Aymen Derbali,who was shot seven times while trying to distract the shooter. He is now a quadriplegic.

"We have to multiply our efforts to be able to dissipate all hate," he said. "We will never forget our brothers who fellhere."

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Derbali said he is convinced the darkness that transpired that night doesnot represent the Quebec he knows.

"It's true that it's a Quebecerwho spread terror at the mosque, but it's also true thatit's Quebecersdoctors, medical staff who did everything they could to save me. And for that I thank them."

Those who saw their friends gunned down but escaped physical injury themselvesalso shared their gratitude for the psychological support they have been able to access.

Mohamed El Hafid said he was among the "37 people who were wounded in their souls, in their spirits." El Hafidsaid their stories have yet to be told.

"They were traumatized, to a different extent. They lived this tragedy, but life must go on," he said.

Messages of peace outweighhate

Colourful banners, paintings and books of condolences from cities across Canada decorated the men's prayer room on Saturday.

Manon Bussires was among dozens of people who attended the open house. Shetook part in the spontaneous vigil that was held the night after the shooting, and has been looking for an opportunity to visit the mosque ever since.

"We can see people here are like a big family and we really felt welcome when we arrived,"Bussires said.

One of the volunteers who sifted through the messages said the mosque was only able to show a fraction of the total number received.

"This is something that is very meaningful," said Fatou Kin Ciss.

"In the ocean of expressions of right-wing extremism, and all those negative messages that have been expressed, we need to dig through the goodness."

KinCiss said the mosque wanted to reflect this to the population.

"That majority is more important than the small minority that is nurturing hatred anddivision," she added.

Jamel El Hachimisaid when he arrived in Quebec City in September to pursue post-doctoral studies at Laval University, he was concerned by the public displays of Islamophobia.

He said he hopes the messages of peace and inclusion that he read at the mosque on Saturday will circulate throughout Quebec society, and will be omnipresentonce his wife and daughter join him from Morocco.

"We keep hope that the future will be better. Everyone has their strengths.Peoplelove life, and peace as well. Peace is in everybody's best interests."

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Sunday's spiritual gathering will be held at Expo-Cit. Leaders from First Nations, from Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Muslim faiths will share the stage.

This story is part ofCBC'sin-depth look at the aftermath of the shooting at the mosque in Quebec City one year ago.CBCwill also have special coverage of thecommemorative eventsonMonday, Jan. 29, including live radio, TV and online broadcasts.