Vigil to be held in North Okanagan for murdered woman

A candlelight vigil is being held tonight in the North Okanagan to remember a local woman who was murdered earlier this month. Tatjana Stefanski was allegedly abducted by her ex-husband and her body was later discovered on Mabel Lake Road in the Lumby area on April 15. “Her absence has left an irreplaceable void in our lives, but her spirit continues to inspire us,” Stefanski’s partner Jason Gaudreault said on social media. “She is the most amazing human that ever came into my life. I have been blessed to have had her all these years and she has truly changed me in so many ways. If you knew Tatjana then you knew she was 100 per cent love and was always so positive.” The vigil will be held at Lumby’s Oval Park at 7 p.m., according to a media release. Attendees are encouraged to wear Stefanski’s favourite colour teal blue. Friends, family and strangers are invited. READ MORE: North Okanagan man calling for legislation reform after murder suspect release https://infotel.ca/newsitem/north-okanagan-man-calling-for-legislation-reform-after-murder-suspect-release/it104381 People will be making lanterns at Lumby Christian Church between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., supplies are going to be provided and donations for Gaudreault and Stefanski’s children are welcome. Gaudreault is currently caring for Stefanki’s children. Stefanski’s ex-husband, Vitali Steffan, also known as Vitali Stefanski, is not in jail while RCMP conducts an investigation. “We know RCMP are doing their best with the investigation,” organizer Angie Clowry wrote in the release. “It's challenging to understand why victims of intimate partner violence and their families feel unprotected as we all do when any crime happens to us or near us. As the community doesn't understand how a life can be taken without anyone immediately held in custody, many questions remain.” READ MORE: North Okanagan family 'aren't safe' after murder suspect released https://infotel.ca/newsitem/north-okanagan-family-arent-safe-after-murder-suspect-released/it104308 Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton has requested RCMP be present and visible at tonight’s vigil. Opposition BC United leader Kevin Falcon has been invited to attend. To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .