Woodstock community comes together at Tori Stafford memorial event

More than 17 years after her death, Tori Stafford's life was remembered at a memorial event throughout Woodstock Museum Square.

Woodstock’s Museum Square was covered with brightly coloured chalk art of butterflies, flowers, and messages to Tori Stafford on what would have been her 26^th birthday.

Tori was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and horrifically murdered in 2009, when she was eight years old.

Seeing the tributes to his daughter, more than 17 years after her death, is meaningful for her father, Rodney Stafford.

“It’s really cool to know that this many years later, that there’s so many people still willing to be involved,” Rodney told CTV News. “And it warms the heart.”

Tori’s death sent shockwaves across the country and left the community of Woodstock scarred with grief. Two people, Terri-Lynne McClintic and Michael Rafferty, are both serving sentences of life in prison for her death.

“I remember what our community went through when we lost Tori,” recalls Woodstock resident Sue Pieters. “I know that her family lost Tori but I feel all of us as Woodstock lost Tori.”

The memorial gathering on her birthday was organized by Woodstock artist Sean Hammond. He had posted online asking for an idea for his next project.

Hammond says he received a reply from a Stafford family member requesting he do purple butterflies in Tori’s honour.

That idea grew into an event, organized in a matter of days, inviting people to gather and draw together.

“The idea of maybe covering the downtown in butterflies was a great idea,” Hammond says. “I thought it’s simple, people can come down, bring your kids and everything like that, and the parents and friends can come down and see this.”

The community quickly rallied with donations of chalk, food and drinks.

Jim and Di Van Dyk from local business Van Dyk’s Greenhouses brought a planter with specially selected flowers.

“We brought this planter over there to attract butterflies, special plants that will attract butterflies,” Jim explains.

The event drew dozens of people who sat, made chalk art and left a message for Tori.

Rodney made his way around the artwork, photographing each one as a keepsake.

“It’s an important day and hopefully she’s looking down and smiling at the little butterflies,” he told CTV.

While the chalk art is temporary, Hammond says the project already is having a major impact.

“This will be the most important piece of art and most meaningful piece of art I ever do in my life,” he says. “Guarantee that.”

Many families came together. Sue Pieters brought her daughter, who was a year old when Tori was taken.

“It really hit me just as a mom to see what the family was going through,” Pieters recalls. “And I just always sort of kept that memory. So I just wanted her to be here… to see this.”

Hammond says he plans to make this an annual event, in a community that’s made it clear how much they care, in spite of the passage of time.

“Honestly, it was meant to be. Today was meant to be. And we’re going to do it every year now,” he says.

“We’ll remember Tori forever,” Di Van Dyk says.

Rodney expressed his gratitude to all those who continue to show their support.

“There’s still a lot of people who love the little girl, and a lot of them never even met her.”