AJAX, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 3, 2014) - Community supporters will join friends and family members of 47 year old Michael MacIsaac at a vigil outside 201 Williamson Drive West, Ajax on January 4^th at 6:00 pm to mourn the loss of a son, brother and husband, and to demand justice for his death at the hands of Durham Regional Police.

Michael MacIsaac was shot and killed shortly after 10 am on December 2^nd, 2013 by Durham Regional Police. Michael was a loving husband, a protective brother, a devoted son, a fun uncle and a loyal friend. He was a kind man who would give to anyone he saw that needed it on the street or even drive to downtown Toronto on cold nights to hand out blankets to the homeless.

Michael suffered from epilepsy for most of his life, which began as a result of a head injury when he was bullied on a school playground when he was only 8 years old. He was a strong and proud man who never wanted to show weakness and his family's hearts would break when his body would be taken over by severe seizures. These seizures would often be brought on by illness/fever and that is exactly what happened on December 2^nd resulting in Michael running his home in a vulnerable and delirious state.

Family members and friends of Michael MacIsaac are demanding that:

1. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) criminally charge the officer who fatally shot Michael;
2. All Ontario police receive training in techniques for de-escalating crisis situations;
3. Province-wide protocols be established requiring police to use these techniques and enlist the assistance of mental health services providers before resorting to deadly force; and
4. Mobile crisis units be established for every police force in the province.

WHAT:	Vigil for Michael MacIsaac
WHERE:	201 Williamson Drive West, Ajax (parking at shopping plaza and across the street at Shoppers Drug Mart)
WHEN:	January 4, 2014 at 6:00 pm
WHO:	Family and friends of Michael MacIsaac, joined by supporters and concerned community members

Michael's sister Joanne MacIsaac said, "Our family suffered an enormous tragedy on December 2nd, 2013. A brother, a son, a husband was killed by the police. This should never have happened. My brother should be alive today, with us, not needlessly buried. Police need to stop shooting first, and asking questions later. We don't know the exact details of what happened that morning but one thing is clear, Michael needed support not bullets."

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/378678882269342