"None of us want to be here, but all of us have to be here," said Rabbi Reuben Poupko, who watched as people gathered shoulder to shoulder at the Beth Israel Beth Aaron synagogue in Côte-Saint-Luc.
Reuben stated, "there are members of all communities here. The Jewish community doesn't stand alone and it doesn't grieve alone. The pain is shared by many.''
Hundreds of people are at a vigil being held at Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation, standing united after a gunman opened fire at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh killing 11 people. There is a very heavy police presence. #MTL #CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/GVz9yN6xgd
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 29, 2018
The Monday night vigil began at 7:30 p.m. with a song, then a reading of the names of the 11 victims of the mass murder Saturday at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue.
There was heightened security in and around the synagogue, as police watched the crowds from bicycles, horseback, and cruisers. There were also dozens of private security officers on scene.
Close to a thousand people are inside, standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity. The synagogue is at double capacity. Many people are waiting outside for their chance to go in and pay respects to those fallen in the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting. #CJAD800
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 30, 2018
"We know how deep and profound (the victims of the attack's) shock and grief is. We know that they will be strengthened by knowing how many people are standing with them, and we know, and we pray, and we hope that they will find comfort in that," said Sara Saber-Freedman is Executive Vice President for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Several representatives from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments were at the vigil.
Earlier on Monday, leaders of a mosque in Quebec City that was the site of a 2017 mass murder carried out by a lone gunman sent condolences to Pittsburgh's synagogue.
"It reminds us of the difficult moments we went through, and it brings back some of that worry,'' Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec co-founder Boufeldja Benabdallah said in an interview Monday.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadians are "horrified'' by the Pittsburgh attack, which occurred at a Sabbath service.
"Our hearts are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and across Canada,'' he told the House of Commons. "May the families of those murdered be comforted and may the injured recover quickly and fully. We're working with U.S. authorities and ready to assist if required. Mr. Speaker, we will always stand united against hatred, intolerance, anti-Semitism and violence.''
With files from the Canadian Press.