According to friends, who asked not to be identified, Pikuyak recently moved to Ottawa from Nunavut, planning to study pre-health at Algonquin College with aspirations of becoming a nurse. On Tuesday, she was remembered as a quick learner and someone with a desire to help her own people. “She was full of life, she had a good sense of humor, she was happy. She was full of hope for her future. I come to Algonquin College to learn a profession, a profession that would help others in their time of need,” said Claude Brulé, president of Algonquin College. Elders at the ceremony recalled Pikuyak’s joy in learning from them, learning how to sew gloves, and her appreciation for their knowledge. In posts on social media, her mother talks about her daughter’s wit and dry humor. “It was difficult, honestly. We were all shocked. It’s been a range of emotions from anger to really deep sadness for everyone affected by this truly tragic and senseless killing of Savannah,” said Brule. Pikuyak was killed on September 12, at a home in the Woodvale Green area of Nepean. Friends and neighbors tell CTV News that she had just moved into the apartment and didn’t know her roommate, Nikolas Ibey, a 33-year-old woman who now faces second-degree murder charges in her death. Algonquin College says that, in light of her death, they will conduct a review of the services they offer to students in terms of housing and accommodation, including students moving into the city. “In light of this tragedy, we will be reviewing our processes, services and resources available to our students. We will also listen to our students and make sure we get the feedback to make sure we are meeting their needs,” Brulé said.
