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In the wake of the murders of Joshua Hunt, Evan Grykuliak and Dylan McGillis, CBC Radio hosted an open forum called Ending Teen Violence at Ross Sheppard Composite High School – where Grykuliak was a student.

The forum was attended by parents, educators, teen advocates, a number of students, mayor Stephen Mandel, police chief Mike Boyd and several members of Edmonton's legal community.

Also in attendance were two fathers who lost their teenaged sons to murder. Josh Hunt's father Gary and Shane Rolston's father Kelly helped put a face to the surviving victims of crime.

Wearing the same messaged hoodie he wore at the trial of his son's accused murderers, Kelly Rolston spoke to media cameras.

"It's too late for Shane. We can't change anything for him. All we can do is hope that we can prevent it and somebody else doesn't have to go through this."

Gary Hunt echoed Kelly's feelings.

"Nobody else needs to go through this. And if we don't do it, who's next? And it will be somebody next for sure."

The crowd heard from a panel made up of police officers and teen survivors of life on the street.

They spoke to the causes of violence and possible solutions to end it. The forum was open to those in the crowd.

"Young people who are disconnected from family, school and community are much more likely to engage in acts of violence," said one woman.

One man suggested the influence of the entertainment and information industry was at fault.

"Our society is under seige right now from the multimedia."

But a teen offered a more balanced perspective.

"There are many young people who play video games, listen to rap music, watch movies – we don't all go out and kill each other."

"This is a question of morals and values and what we are teaching young people today."

The justice system and the Youth Criminal Justice Act also came under scrutiny.

Madam Justice Sheila Greckol spoke from the floor.

"We cannot make decisions based on passion or revenge."

"We need to consider the law and the circumstances. And hopefully in most cases the response is an appropriate one."

"I do also think that the community have faith in the justice system."

"And for that reason the justice system and judges have to be cognisant of how people are feeling about the system."

However, Gary Hunt said a stronger message must be sent to youth.

"If we just let them back on the street – temporarily or for a long period of time – they're going to re-do it again."

"And when they do it again, somebody's going to lose their life and another family is going to be ruined."

The Edmonton Sun spoke to Grade 12 student Sarah Payne about recent violence amongst teens.

"Right now there's still a lot of anger, a lot of emotion. They get this mob mentality, they feel big in a group when they've got their crew to back them up."

Payne dismissed the suggestions that video games, music and violent movies drive youth to act out violently.

"As a young person I enjoy video games, I listen to a variety of music, including rap, I watch violent movies," said Payne. "I have never left my house with a knife in my pocket. I was taught morals and values [to not hurt others]."

"It's not just parents, but it starts with that."

deadmonton - why edmonton? - the ending teen violence forum

edmonton, alberta – the murder capital of canada