‘Ava was loved’: Hundreds attend Montreal vigil for girl, 3, who died in bouncy castle

Hundreds of people gathered and left flowers and stuff animals for a three-year-old girl who tragically died when the bouncy castle she was playing in was thrown into the air by strong winds. (CTV News)

Flowers, stuffed animals, and handwritten notes of condolences filled a makeshift memorial at a park in Montreal’s LaSalle borough on Tuesday evening as the community gathered to remember Ava Ciampini.

The three-year-old girl died last week when the bouncy castle she was in was swept away by strong winds and thrown several feet into the air before landing on the ground. The incident happened during festivities organized by Madredei Cristiani Church in Ouellette Park in Montreal’s LaSalle borough.

She was among the 11 people injured that day.

Residents gathered at the park Tuesday as they continue to mourn her death and to lend some emotional support to the grieving family.

The girl’s father, Luca Ciampini, thanked the crowd for showing up.

“Ava was loved. She was the joy of our lives,” he said as mourners gathered around him in a circle.

“Keep her in your thoughts and prayers and keep us all strong. We thank everybody for being here.”

“I know she’s smiling down on us and keeping a strong and, you know, making sure we’re taking care of ourselves and our and our little guy,” he added.

“But right now, we’re just we’re just there thinking of her and nothing else.”

Among the crowd were people who were there that day when the stormy weather rolled through the region.

Gino Moretto, whose granddaughter knew Ava, said it looked like a “war zone” after seeing many injured people.

“It was horrible,” he recalled.

He came with his granddaughter, who brought a stuffed animal for Ava, to let the Ciampini family know they’re not alone.

“Nobody deserves this. But this family — it’s a beautiful family,” he said. “We never had a tragedy like this in the community. It’s heartbreaking. Very heartbreaking.”

Lucy Orfeo didn’t know the family but wanted to come and show her support.

“I just felt called to be here and just be here and be present and just give them so much love,” she said.

“That’s all they need right now is love and support for a long time to come.”

Firefighters wiped tears from their eyes as they laid a wreath at the memorial to a round of applause from the crowd.

An online fundraiser has collected more than $475,000 for the family so far.

Coroner Martine Lachance is conducting an investigation to shed light on the causes and circumstances that led to Ava’s death. The coroner may also issue recommendations to prevent similar deaths after the completion of her investigation.

With files from CTV News’ Angela Mackenzie