Hundreds mourn Cory Monteith at Vancouver candlelight vigil
Earlier this Friday evening, several hundred fans of Vancouverite Cory Monteith gathered at the make-shift memorial outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel to pay tribute to the late star. The large crowd spilled onto the roadway to the point that Vancouver Police had to shut off vehicle traffic from a portion of Canada Place Way.
The memorial for Monteith has grown considerably since it first began last Sunday morning, just hours after the announcement of his death on Saturday night. Tonight’s Vancouver tribute comes a week after the actor passed away from a deadly heroin and alcohol cocktail in his 21st floor hotel guest room. His body was cremated on Tuesday shortly after it was released by the coroner.
Fans of all ages were present at the 8 p.m. candlelight vigil and they sung O Canada and several songs that were performed on Glee. Balloons were passed around for the crowd to write messages on, and they were later released into the sky to “send it off to Cory.” Richard Monteith, a cousin of Cory’s and among the first to lay flowers outside the hotel’s entrance, was present at the Vancouver vigil and also spoke fondly of his late cousin.
However, the evening did not go without interruption. Water from a balcony above was splattered onto the crowd early on during the vigil, and the possible presence of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church had some in the crowd worried when the group took to Twitter and threatened to make an illegal attempt to cross the border to protest Monteith’s Vancouver vigil. Westboro is currently barred from Canada for its hate speech practices.
Monteith’s girlfriend Lea Michele, who also stars on Glee, was reportedly in Vancouver to mourn with her late boyfriend’s family. Eyewitnesses report that she was seen visiting the make-shift memorial outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.
Candlelight vigil for @CoryMonteith today in #vancouver. #RIP pic.twitter.com/8bnEz8s0TU
— rachelle lim (@rlim381) July 20, 2013
Rest in peace @CoryMonteith…I wish you, like so many others, had been able to fight your demons. #Vancouver #vigil pic.twitter.com/pUvkIxPYUa
— Stephanie Elizabeth (@TheStephieD) July 20, 2013
A group of people at the Cory Monteith candlelight vigil are calling for improved drug addiction education. pic.twitter.com/JeLd6bgymK
— News1130 (@News1130radio) July 20, 2013
The crowd continues to grow at the Cory Monteith candlelight vigil. The crowd just completed ‘O Canada’ pic.twitter.com/cgBcIa001c
— News1130 (@News1130radio) July 20, 2013
#Vancouver vigil for Cory #Monteith @CTVBC #CTV #Glee #ctvbc1130 pic.twitter.com/kOkRsVGetb
— Scott Hurst (@CTVScottHurst) July 20, 2013
#Monteith mourners are singing “Don’t Stop Believing” + other #Glee hits #Vancouver @CTVBC pic.twitter.com/xYYazq9p6R
— Scott Hurst (@CTVScottHurst) July 20, 2013
Crowd at Cory #Monteith vigil in #Vancouver has grown to a few hundred ppl @CTVBC #ctvbc1130 pic.twitter.com/xXkEho03CL
— Scott Hurst (@CTVScottHurst) July 20, 2013
Ppl. At vigil told they can write messages, quotes on balloons for Cory Monteith pic.twitter.com/Dqm49J9YPr
— Alison Bailey (@alisonbailey980) July 20, 2013
Cory Monteith memorial in Vancouver #RipCoryMonteith pic.twitter.com/ZJKFFQbAlb
— Anna Spring (@annakspring) July 20, 2013
Out w my girl Joely tonight.. Candle light memorial for Cory Monteith outside the Fairmont.. So much love here!!! pic.twitter.com/4lqvr3hfsP
— Janene Carleton (@JaneneCarleton) July 20, 2013
#RipCoryMonteith the memorial. You’re missed already. Love you. @CoryMonteith pic.twitter.com/vTE0EqhmmT
— Emma Marceline (@Emmingle) July 20, 2013
Big turnout, sidewalk blocked at the Cory Monteith memorial tonight. pic.twitter.com/dtttDKFNia
— Cheryl Chan (@cherylchan) July 20, 2013
Cory monteith memorial :'( pic.twitter.com/vCEuqHiFfx
— Cassie Frith (@CassieFrith) July 20, 2013
Memorial for Cory Monteith grows outside fairmont pacific rim Vancouver #cbc candlelight vigil planned tonight pic.twitter.com/f0Ka4cookE
— Stephanie Mercier (@stephmer) July 20, 2013
“@gleeeekk: me at Cory’s memorial in front of his hotel. I love you so much Cory Monteith. pic.twitter.com/R35gfFUfQR”
— Ogemi Corichele (@Bee0gemii) July 19, 2013
New picture of outside the Hotel. #RipCoryMonteith pic.twitter.com/ZRP1MK4SV1
— Lea’s Album (@GleeIsAllINeed) July 19, 2013
so today i went downtown to the hotel cory was found dead and look at what the fans put outside i #RipCoryMonteith pic.twitter.com/zy4PgmS7N9
— michelle (8) (@ilycalum) July 20, 2013
Featured Image: Cheryl Chan