REHTAEH PARSONS
Family, N.S. premier seek answers, comfort at Rehtaeh’s funeral
Family and friends mourn teen at Halifax funeral,
HALIFAX, N.S.— Amid the young and old grieving over the shattering loss of Rehtaeh Parsons, the dead teen’s youngest sister, Teaghan, was getting fidgety as 3-year-olds can get in church. Remembering that Parsons’ grandfather, a former minister at the very Anglican church where the funeral for Rehtaeh was held Saturday, had a philosophy that “children should move freely,” cousin Angella Parsons got up and roamed about with the young child.
While more than 100 mourners recalled the life of 17-year-old Parsons, Angella and Teaghan came across a collection of cards and gifts that well-wishers had left for the family. Teaghan was drawn to a small stuffed dog, its pink collar embroidered with the name of her big sister.
“The little one took this for comfort, so thank you to whoever brought this little dog,” Angella said later.
“Social media contributed to Rehtaeh’s depression and death. Social media have shared her story around the world.” REV. JOHN MORRELL
Teaghan wasn’t alone in seeking comfort. Those who loved Parsons, who was taken off life support last Sunday after hanging herself three days earlier, spoke of their despair, anger and indescribable grief. But others talked of the good that has come in the days since her suicide, which followed months of depression over an alleged rape and subsequent social shunning.
Rev. John Morrell, in a eulogy that urged mourners to use this death to prevent others like it, acknowledged the positive accompanying the terrible loss.
“Social media contributed to Rehtaeh’s depression and death. Social media have shared her story around the world,” he said. “Given the worldwide attention to the events leading up to this tragedy, it is appropriate to focus on what happens tomorrow, and the day after, and the weeks and years to come.”
After the funeral, at which Parsons’ aunt gave a eulogy and two friends shared memories, a glassencased box containing Parsons’ ashes was loaded into a hearse as rain pelted down.
Watching in silence were Parsons’ mother Leah, Teaghan and her other sister, Temyson, 9. Both sisters wore pink outfits bought for the occasion. Parsons’ father, Glen Canning, sobbed and clutched his partner.
Mike Wells, Parsons’ boyfriend since last fall, arrived at the funeral with the family. In an interview Thursday with the Star the 20year-old pipefitting student had said Parsons “was just way different than any other girl.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Wells said, as he quietly sobbed.
He was thankful that the tragedy has aroused widespread public outrage and calls for justice but felt “it shouldn’t have taken this.” On Friday, police announced they were reopening their investigation into allegations that Parsons had been raped by four boys at a house party in November 2011. The Parsons family says the teens took turns assaulting Rehtaeh and snapped a cellphone photo that was widely circulated among high school students in nearby Cole Harbour, where they live. The humiliation and bullying that followed led to an 18-month battle with depression for Parsons. Her family says she turned to drugs and had suicidal thoughts. RCMP and Halifax police investigated the family’s allegations but did not lay charges, saying there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute anyone. This prompted calls for justice from online “hacktivists.” Several students at Cole Harbour District High School, which Parsons attended, told the Star that her alleged attackers — said to be in Grades10 through12 — still walk the halls freely. Police now say all this may change with the reopening of the investigation: someone with credible new information has come forward. They stressed the information did not come from online sources.
Attending the funeral was Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who called the family’s loss “unfathomable.” Afterwards he thanked those upset and angered by the tragedy for not taking action into their hands.
The Anonymous group of hacktivists has claimed it knows the names of the four alleged attackers but has not made them public out of respect for the family’s wish to avoid violence and further bullying.
Last week, Dexter appointed a minister to oversee a review of the case. On Friday, his government launched an online and TV ad campaign to raise awareness about the resources available to those needing help.
Parsons’ death has also prompted other Nova Scotia high schoolers to take action. Shannon Barry, 16, a student at Dartmouth High, where it is suspected that students also saw the photo, is one of a group that started a campaign to promote positive use of social media and cellphones.
Their philosophy is that students have the power literally in their hands — via their cellphones — to positively or negatively affect another person’s life. Students are encouraged to sign pledges to use that power for good.
They will then tweet, text or post to Facebook their personal pledges en masse.
“It’s to encourage us (to) not call a girl slut on Twitter, not retext a nasty picture,” she said.
Rev. Morrell called for efforts to battle sexual abuse and cyberbullying.
“How can our society create a safe haven for young girls? Why do young men feel that young girls are but objects for their sexual fantasies and pleasure? Why do teenagers avoid seeking help when they are depressed and suicidal? How can our schools deal with physical and now cyber-bullying?” he asked.