Virk was a beacon

Victoria has lost a beacon of strength and compassion with the death of Suman Virk. Suman and her husband, Manjit, dedicated themselves to healing and to ending youth violence in the years after their 14-year-old daughter, Reena, was murdered by other teens on Nov. 14, 1997.

Suman died on Saturday in what her family calls a tragic accident.

Reena was swarmed and beaten by a group of teens under the Craigflower Bridge. Warren Glowatski and Kelly Ellard followed her across the bridge, continued attacking her and then drowned her. Her body was found eight days later.

In spite of the pain they felt, Suman and Manjit forgave Glowatski after he took responsibility and apologized.

Over the years that followed Reena’s death, the couple took a message of inclusion to hundreds of students, urging them to reject bullying and to find non-violent ways to resolve conflicts. It’s a message that is no less important today, not just among teens, but for all of us.

Forgiveness takes strength, but we would not need forgiveness if we first heeded Suman’s call to greet others with the open hand instead of the fist. If even a few of those hundreds of young people heard her words and lived them, she has left a fitting legacy.

Suman Virk lived through the horrific death of her daughter, and through it found the best in herself. With her passing, the community has lost a soul of kindness.