Canadians react to Charlie Kirk's murder: Thousands attend Winnipeg vigil and others across the country

A vigil was held for Charlie Kirk in Winnipeg on Tuesday, with a crowd of more than a thousand people “full of kindness,” says one woman who attended.

Mellissa Gladue, 31, told the National Post that she was drawn to the event because of her admiration for Kirk, how he spoke openly about his Christianity, and was able to debate people openly. The resident of Niverville, about a 30-minute drive from Winnipeg, went to the vigil with her fiancé outside of the Manitoba Legislative Building around 7:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. ET).

“Charlie Kirk was the epitome of Christians across the world. He was brave enough to speak the bold truth about the gospel and not being afraid to have public debate and discussion on values aligning with Christianity,” said Gladue. “It is not easy as Christians to go against the norm and debate God with people who may not believe.”

She said she didn’t know what to expect when she arrived at the legislature building, but people of all backgrounds and ages were there, “hugging, praying, laughing, crying.”

Kirk was killed on Sept. 10 after being shot at an event he was hosting at Utah Valley University in Orem, UT. The political influencer was known for debating a wide range of topics such as religion, racism and abortion, and for his promotion of Christian values. He was a divisive figure due to some of his stances. The 31-year-old was a husband and father of two. The man suspected in his murder, Tyler James Robinson , is being held without bail and has been charged with aggravated murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The Winnipeg vigil was organized by Patrick Allard, per local radio station CHVN-FM . He shared a photo of the event on Facebook with the message, “We are all Charlie Kirk.”

We are all Charlie Kirk

Posted by Patrick Allard for St. Johns MLA on Tuesday, September 16, 2025

In 2023, Allard ran as an independent candidate for St. Johns , a provincial riding in Winnipeg, according to Elections Manitoba. He was described by CHVN-FM as an “outspoken critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates.”

“Feels like a lot of love is in the air,” Allard said, speaking to those in attendance on Tuesday night, CHVN-FM reported. On Facebook, Allard posted about another vigil being held on Sept. 20 in La Broquerie, a predominantly French-speaking community southeast of Winnipeg.

Also on Tuesday evening, a vigil was held in Regina, Saskatchewan, with roughly 200 people in attendance, local radio station CKRM reported . The event’s organizer Marlissa Butz told the publication that she was deeply affected by Kirk’s death.

“I couldn’t sleep, and I was just crying for his wife,” she said. “And I have an 18-month-old on my own, and to think about if his dad wasn’t there, and how do I explain that to him.”

Earlier this week, other vigils were held for Kirk across Alberta. CTV News reported that hundreds attended a Calgary vigil. Some held signs or candles, and many were singing and praying. Vigils were also held in Edmonton and Red Deer, per CityNews .

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra reposted a video of the vigil in Calgary. “Thank you, Calgary, for standing with us,” he wrote on X .

A large-scale memorial for Kirk is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Glendale, Arizona at State Farm Stadium . According to the stadium’s website, it has “a fixed seating capacity of 63,400, expandable to over 73,000 for larger events.”

The event is first come, first serve, with doors opening at 8 a.m. MT.

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