An emotional memorial was held on Sunday afternoon in honor of a 47-year-old cyclist who died after being hit by two riders just under a week ago in south-west Scarborough.
The collision occurred on February. 26 shortly after 5:30 pm in St. Clair Avenue East, just west of Birchmount Road. The victim was taken to the hospital, but died a short time later.
Described as a “moving and impactful” memorial by organizers, Sunday’s gathering brought together dozens of cyclists, supporters and advocates, as well as a few family members of the victim, who has been identified as and Bill (Vasilios) Petropoulos.
The gathering also included the installation of what is known as a ghost bike, a bike that is painted white and decorated with flowers in memory of vulnerable road users killed on Toronto’s streets.
Petropoulos had just left a funeral and was on his way to work when the collision that took his life happened, his family told CP24.com.
Advocacy for respect for cyclists, which planned Sunday’s memorial, had previously interacted with Petropoulos as he had delivered food with his bicycle to vulnerable people in shelters on several occasions.
“He was a humanitarian with a big family here in Toronto, in New York City, and in Greece,” the group wrote in a Facebook post.
Petropoulos leaves behind his parents, Demetre and Christina, siblings Antonia and Paul (Anastasia), and his niece and best friend Christina, and many family members and friends.
“He touched many lives in his travels and will never be forgotten. Bill was and truly is an Angel with a pure heart. We love you forever, Rest in Peace Bill,” read an online obituary.
Many people have also posted tributes to Petropoulos calling him a kind and helpful person with a “pure heart” and a “kind character”. Mourners said he was a “gift from God”, a “phenomenal storyteller” and a “truly unique” individual who “made everyone better”.
“Bill had the ability to light up a room with a smile and made work fun,” wrote a friend who had worked with Petropoulos at U of T.
More than a thousand people attended Petropoulos’ funeral on Saturday. He was buried at Scarborough Pine Hills Cemetery.
