Friends rally to send slain student to Jamaica

Simone Reid“Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you,” penned murdered student Simone Reid.
“In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn’t have the time to sit around and talk about you. What’s important to me is not others’ opinions of me but what’s important to me is my opinion of myself.”
Originally from Jamaica, the 18-year-old first-year student in the police foundations course at Centennial College had dreams of becoming a police officer but she died in mysterious circumstances.
And as the community is assisting Reid’s mother in Jamaica to send her body home, her father Paul Reid, 49, was found dead in his minivan in Markham.
Whoston Wray told The Camera, “On Thursday (today) at Centennial College, Progress Ave, Scarborough, there will be a fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Simone. We are in the process of raising $15,000. Already, Victim Support has pledged $5,000.”
Dev Tony posted on Facebook, “Rest in peace Simone. The Jamaican Advocate Club at Centennial College will be assisting your family in any way we can. Very sad. I hope the killer is brought to swift justice. Feeling sad right now.”
Wray said the Canadian Association of Black Law Enforcement will start a scholarship in her name come next May. “In this way, good would come out of this tragedy and other young people will be able to carry on Simone’s vision, mission and values.”
An affable, ambitious young woman who loved to laugh, Reid would have turned 19 last week. She was focused on school and had no time for party and the drinking lifestyle, her friends say.
Investigators, who had been searching for Paul Reid since his daughter’s body was found Nov. 13, declared Simone’s death a homicide but lack enough information to say what role, if any, he played in her death. His body was found in his mini-van in an abandoned area near Kennedy Rd. and Elgin Mills.
“Please send Simone home for Christmas,” Wray said. “This is an appeal to each and every one. We are nowhere close to the money we have targeted for. We are desperately appealing at this time for your generous donation.” Donations may be made via GoFundMe or email whoston_wray@hotmail.com.
He said they would like to have a memorial service on or before Dec. 12 then send her remains to her family for interment in Jamaica.