New mural remembers Fredy Villanueva, killed by a Montreal police officer
A new mural depicting Fredy Villanueva, who was killed by a Montreal police (SPVM) officer in 2008, has been unveiled in the city's Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time. It's incredible," said Lilian Madrid Antunes, Villanueva's mother. "When I saw the picture of my son, I was shocked. Tears started pouring down my cheeks. I saw my child the way he was when he arrived in Canada."
The mural, titled L'innocence de la Nouvelle Maison, or The Innocence of a New Home, is a translation of "villa-nueva," symbolizing what Canada represents to those who immigrate to the country.
The Villanueva family arrived in Canada on refugee status from Honduras due to a land conflict that saw their lives in danger.
"It's amazing to be chosen to share something profound like this," said muralist Monk.E. "That's why I make art; to have an impact on our time through meaningful projects."
Villanueva died on Aug. 9, 2008 at the age of 18 after he was shot by a Montreal police officer in the parking lot of Henri-Bourassa Arena in the city's Montreal North borough.
He, along with his brother, Dany, and three others, were playing a game of dice when two patrol officers approached them.
The constables, Jean-Loup Lapointe and Stéphanie Pilotte, believed some of those in attendance were members of a street gang -- though Villaneuva himself had no criminal record.
A conflict erupted when the men were asked to identify themselves and Dany walked away.
Lapointe then attempted to arrest him and the others obstructed his actions.
He said he felt they were reaching for his gun and he "saw no other alternative than to fire immediately."
Villaneuva and two others were injured and the teen later died in hospital.
No criminal charges were filed against the officers involved, leading to mass protests and ongoing demands for reform and justice across Montreal and Quebec.
The mural in Villanueva's memory was a collaboration between Article47, Emrical, muralist Monk.E and his family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canada's longstanding blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma was harmful and discriminatory, Canadian Blood Services acknowledged on Friday, in issuing an apology to the LGBTQ2S+ community.