The family of slain teenager Jordan Manners made a tearful appeal to the Ontario government on Wednesday to launch an inquest and called for the appointment of a commissioner of youth.

Lorraine Small, the mother of 15-year-old Jordan, said the family is devastated by the loss and she urged the public to use the tragedy as motivation for change.

"I'm asking for all your support, please don't let my son die in vain," Small said.

"He was on his way to being somebody and was the one who could have made a difference for me in my old age," Small said.

Jordan's uncle, aunt and the family's lawyer, Courtney Betty, were also on hand to address the media.

The family currently has a petition and online initiatives started in the hopes of motivating the government to act.

"This is not about a black community," said Greg Stokes, Jordan's uncle.

Stokes urged the public and the media to focus on the underlying issues that motivate gun violence in Toronto and to not let Jordan's death be forgotten.

"If we close our eyes and turn our back, it will happen again and we're responsible and we owe it to the generation that is coming up," Stokes said.

Betty, the family's lawyer, said the government has a duty to launch an inquest in the social issues that plague youth today.

"We are simply asking that individuals in positions of authority do what is right," Betty said.

Betty said he is tired of representing mothers who have lost their children or who have had children injured by acts of violence.

"Our view is unless something is done -- and it's not an 'if', it's a matter of when -- there will be another circumstance," Betty said.

John Muise, director of Public Safety for the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness, also echoed the call for an inquest and youth commissioner.

The province appointed its third and final commissioner, Ken Dryden, in 1984. He served in the position for two years.

"We have young men who pack real hand guns and the end result is horrific, it's horrible," Muise said. "We need an answer from decision makers."

"I just don't want to see any other family going through what I'm going through, what my family and friends are going through," Small added.

Small, who said she has not slept in the seven nights since her son died, said Jordan was the joy of her life. She said she wasn't sure how she would get through the boy's funeral.

"Jordan was my life. I had five kids, now I have four and he's not coming back. Tomorrow, maybe they'll have to bury me too. I've got to be honest, it's what I'm feeling.''

The press conference was held at the Christian Centre Church at 4545 Jane St., where Jordan's funeral will be held Thursday morning.

The family would not answer any questions regarding the factual circumstances of the shooting or the arrests related to the case.

Two 17-year-old boys have been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting that took place at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, near the intersections of Keele Street and Finch Ave, a week ago.

The youths cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Crown prosecutors said they will seek adult sentencing should the two suspects be found guilty in Jordan's death.

Visitation for Jordan continued today at Demarco Funeral Home, near Keele Street and Finch Ave., a short distance from C.W. Jefferys.

With a report from CTV's Roger Petersen and files from The Canadian Press