Montrealers held a vigil Sunday evening to honour those slain and injured in a nightclub shooting in Orlando.

In the first of what promises to be several vigils, about two dozen gathered at Parc de L'Espoir in the gay village to light candles and hold flags.

Members of the gay community say they are very disturbed by the shooting at a gay nightclub, especially because of the homophobia promoted by Islamic extremism.

During the shooting on Saturday night the gunman, Omar Mateen, called police and professed allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State.

At this point police in the United States suspect Mateen was an ISIS sympathizer without any ties to the terrorist organization.

Many people who knew Mateen said he was perennially angry and frustrated by minor events. His father said that less than a month ago he became enraged by seeing two men kissing in Miami.

The man who started Montreal's first gay helpline said the weekend attack is a sign more work needs to be done to educate the public.

"It's our community and we fight for many years to have our rights and when we see what happened there it's really bad for us," said Laurent McCutcheon.

"We have to talk with the people to say what is really homosexuality. To be homosexual, it's not a crime, it's normal in our society."

Another vigil will be held at Parc de L'Espoir on Thursday that will be attended by many dignitaries, including Mayor Denis Coderre.

Meanwhile flags have been lowed to half-mast at Montreal City Hall and the National Assembly.