Hundreds attend Maple Batalia vigil in Surrey
Posted September 28, 2012 8:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – The word ‘Maple’ was lit up with tea lights at Surrey’s Holland Park to remember Maple Batalia who was gunned down a year ago.
About 200 people gathered in the park Friday night to honour the memory of the 19-year-old woman.
One family member thanked the friends of the slain girl for their support.
“We wouldn’t have been able to get through the difficult times without your love. We really appreciate it. It shows what an amazing person she was, and we just really want to keep her memory alive. We really thank everyone. Let’s just take a minute of silence for Maple, if everyone could please say a prayer for her.”
One woman in the crowd is a neighbour of the family. “She was my sister’s age. We have many pictures together. We played together.”
This man didn’t know Maple at all. “The story touched me when it happened a year ago. It’s unfortunate we haven’t found the individuals responsible for the death of Maple Batalia, but I think it’s a question not ‘if’ but ‘when’ there is an arrest made.”
Harry Batalia, Maple’s dad, realizes investigators can’t get too specific when updating the family.
“We try not to go too deep when asking them questions. We have full confidence in whatever the police are doing. It might take a little time. We are patient,” he says, referring to the fact there have been no arrests in the case.
Holland Park is where a maple tree and a park bench have been installed in Maple’s memory.
Batalia was killed at the Surrey SFU campus parking lot.
A documentary show-casing Batalia’s love for art was shown at SFU Surrey Friday afternoon.
He sister Rosy says proceeds will go a fund that’s been set up in Maple’s memory.
“It depicts her artwork, because she was a really good artist. We’re collecting $10 donations that will go towards her arts bursary.”
