‘I miss her’: Virk family hosts event against youth violence to mark 20th anniversary of teen’s murder

WATCH: This week marks 20 years since Reena Virk was brutally murdered in Saanich. Her father speaks to CHEK about his ongoing efforts to prevent youth violence. Isabelle Raghem reports. 

November 14th will mark two decades since Manjitt Virk’s daughter was killed. But the father says she lives on in his memories.

“I miss her and she’s always in my heart. She just fell in the crowd and she was naïve and didn’t realize how dangerous these kids were,” Virk told CHEK on Sunday.

“She was thriving and she was a nice person, she will hug everybody, she was a loving person, very trusting and they betrayed her trust these kids.”

An event called Remembering Reena: A Community?s Commitment to Nonviolence will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at the heritage Craigflower Schoolhouse in Saanich. The public is welcome.

Manjit Virk will be among speakers at the event. Minister of Education Honourable Rob Fleming and UVic Professor Mandeep Mucina will also be speaking.

The father says he continues to share Reena’s story in hopes of preventing another preventable tragedy.

“Twenty years is a good landmark and I think Victoria will never forget this tragedy,” added Virk, “I don’t think anyone can forget her.”

Reena Virk, who was 14-years-old, was swarmed and beaten under Saanich’s Craigflower Bridge by a group of teens in the fall of 1997.

Reena was able to get away only to be dragged back and beaten again by 15-year-old Kelly Ellard and 16-year-old Warren Glowatski before her head was held under water until she drowned. Both Ellard and Glowastki were convicted of second-degree murder.

Glowatski who admitted to his role and apologized to the family has been released on full parole since 2010.

Elard only acknowledged her role in the death last year lives in an Abbotsford prison with her baby. She has an upcoming hearing for a second parole request.

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