There is a strange echo this morning.

One year ago today, I woke up to a radio telling me about a death in my city. I am not a callous person, but I am, unfortunately, somewhat used to hearing about violence. But this one unnerved me for some reason. Maybe it was because it was on a street that I frequent, that I used to live near and that my friends still live on.

And then I got up and went online and read both rumours and reports. People I knew were talking about mourning, but not saying for whom. The violence was hitting close to home.

And then I saw his name, everywhere.

Raymond.

One year later, once again, I see Raymond’s name all over my Facebook feed, in news stories, in blog posts. I hear his name on the radio once again, and on television. But this time, he is smiling.

One year later, as I write this, there are people on Gottingen Street remembering Raymond. They are trying to remember everything that happened before he died, because it’s too difficult to think of the how and the why. Because those things don’t make sense.

Right now, I would rather think of him in those ways. I would rather see Raymond’s smiling face than walk over and around where they found him. I would rather think of the good he did than the unfortunate way he died. I’d rather remember all the people who came out, the hundreds who sat silently in prayer and reflection, who spoke quietly and who sang loudly one year ago today.

I will remember good things. Because that’s what he would want.

Later that evening, hundreds of people would stand on the street where he was found, remembering who he was and what he stood for.

In light of the first anniversary of that event, Halifax Pride is asking Haligonians to remember Taavel by placing rainbow flags in their windows, an echo of last year’s happening.

“In organizing this we weren't looking to do something that was a media event, or an event at all really,” says Adam Reid, Halifax Pride's communications coordinator. “We want to give people a way to mark the day, express their grief, celebrate Raymond's life and hopefully find some comfort. People were so touched by the number of flags that sprung up around town last year following Raymond's life, we wanted to replicate that moment and the comfort it brought people.”

Reid notes that there will also be gatherings held at Menz Bar and The Company House between 5 and 7pm, “so people won't feel alone in their grief.” He expects that “many people will just want a hug and someone to talk to.”

When asked about the ongoing and much-delayed trial for Andre Denny, who stands as the accused in Taavel’s death, Reid says, “We're really just focused on celebrating and remembering the friend we lost.”

You can find out more at the Facebook event page.

There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

According to Global Maritimes, Raymond Taavel will receive the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal posthumously. His partner, Darren Lewis, said that he knew Taavel had been nominated but was moved by the news. "[His family] were the first people I spoke with, and of course they're just ecstatic. They can't believe their little Raymond from Sault Ste Marie is going to be honoured in such a way," he is reported to have said.

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to "honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians." Taavel was well known in Halifax for his work as a gay activist, as well as his work with Halifax Pride. Taavel was attacked in the early hours of April 17 on Gottingen Street and died as a result. Andre Noel Denny has been charged with second-degree. Denny was a patient at the East Coast Forensic Hospital, where he was out on a day pass.  His trial has been put on hold until the court receives a psychological assessment, which is due to be released Nov 26. 

It's hard enough trying to keep up with news, so we here at Down East try to make it easier for you with the Reading List. Here are some of the most interesting (and occasionally entertaining) bits of news online today.

- First things first. The mother of Andre Denny, the man accused in the death of Halifax activist Raymond Taavel, spoke to the media today, stating that her son is innocent, that the system failed her son, and compared herself to Donald Marshall's mother. Yesterday, a report published by both the justice and health departments of Nova Scotia asked for changes to the current modes of practice put in place at the East Coast Forensic Hospital. Denny was on a one-hour leave from the ECFH on the day of Taavel's death but did not return on time.

-  In a strange bit of editorializing mixed with facts, the National Post talks about the recent census data on families, stating that "The sanctity of marriage as the bedrock of the Canadian family is steadily eroding as the country’s social fabric evolves, new census data released today reveals." Okay then. 

- In other ridiculous things that were reported today, both Towleroad and Gawker posted about a supposed conversation that Paris Hilton had. Why do they (or anyone) care? Because Hilton allegedly said, "Ewww. Eww. To get f**ked? Gay guys are the horniest people in the world. They're disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS."

- In case you're depressed and disgusted by humanity, here is a video of Maya Rudolph singing Prince's "Darling Nikki" -- as in the song that made Tipper Gore mad at her daughter and the entire recording industry -- with The Roots. Amazing.

There have been a few updates on the Raymond Taavel story, both promising and unnerving.

First the bad news. The Chronicle Herald reports that Andre Denny, the accused in Taavel's murder, has had the time allotted for his psychiatric evaluation extended. Denny was sent to Ontario for his evaluation, since it was deemed that having it done in Nova Scotia could constitute a conflict of interest for the health authority that gave him a day pass. The psychiatrist to whom Denny was assigned has asked for more time before he makes his final assessment.

On to the good news.

Halifax Pride will be honouring Taavel, as well as Halifax's early pioneers and marchers, during this year's festivities. Pride's chairperson, Krista Snow, told The Chronicle Herald that “We’re hoping to do [something fitting] to honour that group from the first march. The people who protested got us, I guess, to where we are today."

Speaking of pride, Halifax Pride recently launched its new logo for this year's event.

And in what is probably one of the weirdest things I've read today, a piece in The Advocate offers advice on figuring out if your boyfriend is a psychopath. Gah.

The vigil last night for Raymond Taavel was an extraordinary event. I had the opportunity to write about it for Xtra, but I felt there was one element that I wanted to bring to the table that I was unable to in the original story.

Music.

The event started with an impromptu crowd version of "Amazing Grace" and was punctuated by performances by local musicians and performers. One of the songs was "Down to the River to Pray," a song known to many due to the rousing version by Alison Krauss on the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. You can listen to the version peformed at last night's vigil here.

This song has been stuck in my head all day. I've been singing it to keep my spirits up.

*

The night of the incident, Taavel and his drinking companions had been listening to the jukebox in the bar. Someone made note of the songs that were played that night.

In honour of that list, I'd like to post a couple videos from it.

Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill."

Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real."

(This song was mentioned at the vigil by Councillor Dawn Sloane, who said Taavel taught her how to dance to it.)

Keep on dancin', Raymond.

I wake up to the news every morning. This morning, I heard that a man was assaulted after leaving a gay bar on Gottingen St. Police had closed off a section of the street, between Cornwallis and Cunard. The man was dead.

Fuck.

Details were few and far between. At that point, I didn’t know if the assailant had been found. A “slur” was used by the assailant, according to a witness.

My Facebook feed was even less hopeful. A man I know commented that his friend was dead. And then another person said the same thing, neither of them mentioning who it was. The journalist in me wondered who it was. The gay man who’s been living in Halifax for 15 years shuddered, wondering who it was, wanting and not wanting to know.

And then, at 10:30, my phone rang. A friend told me who it was. As I am on the phone with that friend, I get a text: "Raymond?"

Fuck.

A local news source, Open File, had identified the person who was killed. His name was Raymond Taavel. The police have a suspect who is being held for questioning, and according to reports, charges will soon be laid.

Fuck. The victim.

Raymond was not a victim. He would not allow himself to be victimized. He was open, honest and vocal, an advocate for gay rights. To write the word “victim” is disheartening and disturbing.