Vigil held for infant found dead in Saskatoon recycling bin

A vigil was held in Saskatoon Saturday to honour an infant found dead in a downtown recycling bin.

Even though the identity isn’t known, a crowd of more than 40 people showed up to pay respects.

Mario Fiddler visited the area where the infant was found on Friday evening, but he called for more people to join him on Saturday at the same location for another vigil.

“It’s to show the community we have to come together in times like this,” he said of why he was compelled to hold a vigil in the alley between 4th and 5th Avenue.

“That’s what shocks us because it happened in our city and it’s like something straight out of a movie.”

A drum group comprised of Fiddler’s children sang two songs in memory of the child before a smudge was held.

He mentioned the crowd became vocal at one point during the vigil.

One person yelled, wondering who could abandon a baby. Others in the crowd quickly condemned the person’s comments before a person shouted: “If the mother was surrounded by love and support this wouldn’t have happened.”

Police have not issued any further updates on the investigation, but Allyson Edwards, director of public services with the police, encouraged the mom to come forward and mentioned officers intentions to speak with hospitals to see if there was a mom who had recently given birth and didn’t have the presence of a child.

“We have to come together as a community. We have to show the world that Saskatoon is a place of unity,” Fiddler said.

In the lead up to Saturday’s vigil, Fiddler said his own children began asking if they could do anything to help, but Fiddler couldn’t come up with the words to explain the situation.

“There’s no wrong or right way to say anything right now. It’s like that ball in your throat – like you’re choking on shock,” Fiddler said.