Toronto memorial held for Romanian family who died trying to cross to U.S.
A Romanian couple who died with their Canadian-born children as they fled a deportation order were remembered at a memorial Thursday as loving parents who wanted the best for their kids.
Florin Iordache, his wife Cristina (Monalisa) Zenaida Iordache, their two-year-old daughter Evelin and one-year-old son Elyen were among eight people found dead in the St. Lawrence River in March.
Police have said the Iordaches and another family were trying to cross to the United States through Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, which straddles provincial and international boundaries and includes regions of Quebec, Ontario and New York state.
Dozens of community members and staff of the TAIBU Community Health Centre, where the Iordaches received health care in Toronto's east end, gathered for a memorial to remember the family on Thursday. A photo of the family stood on a table with flowers and candles while attendees listened to Romani music.
Francine Charpentier, a nurse practitioner at the centre who provided primary health care to the family, said the event was an opportunity for those who knew the Iordaches to share their grief.
“I've known them for three years. I've known the oldest child, Evelin, since she was four days old,” she said. “I've seen them all the time.”
Charpentier said she wrote a few letters to support their refugee case.
“They were fantastic. They were great parents, very dedicated and devoted,” she said. “It was so tragic that it's hard to put into words.”
Peter Ivanyi, a Toronto lawyer who had represented the Iordache family since 2018, has said the couple were desperate to stay in the country for the sake of their two children, who were Canadian citizens.
He said the couple were among many Romanians who arrived in the country in December 2017 after Canada waived most visa requirements. Florin Iordache and his wife filed for asylum the next year on the grounds that they faced discrimination back home.
While the Immigration and Refugee Board found the couple's story to be credible, Ivanyi said, it denied their application because they didn't believe the situation was so dire that the couple would be denied basic human rights in Romania.
The president of the Toronto Roma Community Centre, Michael T. Butch, said the deaths were devastating, especially because they took place only a few days before International Roma Day on April 8.
“We had everything going on, we were excited, and then six days prior we heard about this terrible tragedy to this beautiful family,” he said.
Butch said parents of children who are born on Canadian soil should be allowed to remain in the country and be spared the risk of deportation.
Liben Gebremikael, the executive director of the TAIBU Community Health Centre, said Thursday's event aimed not only to honour the Iordache family but also to highlight the issues many asylum seekers face in Canada.
“The crux of the issue is why did they end up doing this and ending up drowning?” he said.
“It's a family. They have children. The children were born here. They're Canadians. Did they really have to go through this? ... This is not really humane.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW How car thefts are impacting your insurance, even if your car isn't stolen
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says US$18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
Minnesota beats Boston 3-0, wins inaugural Walter Cup as Professional Women's Hockey League champs
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.