MOM OF MURDERED TEEN REENA VIRK DIES
Pain of daughter Reena’s murder channelled into decades-long campaign against violence
Suman Virk, the Saanich mother who turned anti-bullying advocate after the brutal murder of her daughter Reena, has died.
She died on Saturday, three days after she choked while eating in a café. Her airways were blocked for several minutes, which left her brain dead. She was 58.
She leaves behind her children, Aman and Simren, her husband of 39 years, Manjit, and a large extended family.
Her son, Aman, wants his mother to be remembered for her advocacy and her community spirit. He said the family is asking for privacy as they grieve.
Suman and Manjit Virk channelled the pain of their 14-year-old daughter’s death into a decadeslong anti-violence campaign. They travelled the country speaking to high school students and helped develop programs to combat bullying and violence in the school system.
For this, the couple was awarded B.C.’s highest honour for community safety and crime prevention, the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction.
“I never thought we would be doing this type of work, but we felt very passionately and very strongly that we wanted others to learn from our tragedy,” Suman Virk told the Times Colonist after she received the award.
On Nov. 14, 1997, Reena was swarmed and beaten by a group of mostly teen girls under the Craigflower Bridge. As she limped across the bridge after the attack, she was followed by Warren Glowatski, then 16, and Kelly Ellard, then 15. The two continued the assault, and then drowned Reena by holding her head under water.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murray, the prosecutor at Kelly Ellard’s murder trial, said in a statement that Suman Virk “spent countless hours talking to groups of young people about the dangers of bullying and succumbing to peer pressure.”
Murray described attending some of her talks and being awestruck at how she could connect with people of all ages.
“I’ll never forget how the teenagers of local high schools lined up — long lines — to talk to her. She greeted each one with warmth. There was no doubt that each of them left their brief meeting with Suman inspired. It was really something special to witness,” Murray said.
“This world needs more Suman Virks,” Murray added. “She will definitely always be remembered by our community and by anyone that was lucky enough to meet her. I know that I will never forget her. She left a big mark on my heart.”
Suman and Manjit sat through Glowatski and Ellard’s trials, and had to endure what they called a “12-year legal quagmire” as Ellard appealed her seconddegree-murder conviction to the Supreme Court of Canada. The court’s 8-1 decision ended the prospect of a rare fourth trial for Ellard.
Ellard was first convicted in 2000. The decision was overturned on appeal and a new trial was ordered. Her second trial ended in a hung jury and her third jury found her guilty in 2005. That conviction was subsequently overturned by the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2008, but the Crown appealed it to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2009.
Reena’s killing attracted international attention and inspired books and movies, including Under the Bridge, by Rebecca Godfrey. Manjit Virk also published a book about his daughter’s life and death titled Reena: A Father’s Story.
Criminal-justice professionals remembered Suman as a kind, caring, open-hearted woman.
Suman and Manjit heralded the power of restorative justice, after an emotional meeting with Glowatski in July 2006 in a church basement in Mission. Glowatski apologized, and the Virks forgave him for his role in the killing.
“You don’t really want to sit down and talk to the person who has taken your child’s life,” Suman told the Times Colonist in 2009. “Seeing what he had to say for himself, it doesn’t make things right or take away the pain, but you can let go of the questions you have and put it behind you.
“It gave us a voice to say whatever we needed to.”
Murray said this experience led Suman to become “a leading force” in restorative justice.
She said she was amazed by Suman’s strength and grace.
“I never knew what forgiveness looked like before I met Suman. And then I witnessed firsthand how powerful it is.”
The Virks were often called upon by politicians looking for feedback on criminal justice reform. In 2011, Suman said she was contacted by the Conservative government and asked to speak in support of youth-justice provisions in the omnibus crime bill, C-10.
Suman said at the time she supported aspects of the legislation, such as provisions that would make it easier to hold violent and repeat young offenders in custody while awaiting trial.
She also spoke in favour of better mental-health treatment and counselling for young offenders.
The family marked the 20-year anniversary of Reena’s killing last November at a rainsoaked ceremony next to the Craigflower Bridge. Suman, who had a heart attack last year, was not well enough to attend.
Last year, Suman expressed frustration at the news that Ellard was able to have a baby while serving her life sentence.
Just before Ellard was granted day parole in November, Suman and Manjit said they wanted to hear Ellard take responsibility for holding Reena’s head in the water until she stopped breathing.
Until she applies for full parole, Ellard will remain on day parole as long as her behaviour is satisfactory and does not put the public at risk, parole board spokeswoman Sara Robertson said on Monday.
A private funeral for Suman Virk will take place on Saturday.