Family of ‘kind-hearted, trusting’ Hodan Hashi vows to pursue justice for stabbing victim
The family of Hodan Hashi, the 23-year-old Ottawa woman who died in a violent altercation in a Saskatoon bar on Nov. 5, is vowing to pursue justice after the accused killer was released on bail with a charge reduced to manslaughter.
“We are dissatisfied with the decision that was made on (the accused’s) bail, and we do not plan to rest until complete justice is served. This is not going to be swept under the rug or easily forgotten,” said one of Hashi’s eight siblings, speaking on condition that their first name would not be published.
Paige Theriault-Fisher, 22, was initially charged with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of Hashi, but the charge was reduced to manslaughter after Saskatoon police reviewed the evidence, including viral video recorded by club patrons. Theriault-Fisher was released from custody Thursday on $5,000 cash bail.
Meanwhile, the Hashi family is reeling from the loss of a sister who was a kind-hearted, social person with a beautiful smile and many friends, the sibling said. Born in Ottawa, Hodan was the sixth of nine children born to parents Osman Hashi and Anab Hirsi, who immigrated to Canada from Somalia in 1989.
Religion is a foundation in the family, the sibling noted, and Hodan identified as a proud Muslim woman. As a child, she had attended Saturday school at a mosque, and in her youth she accompanied her parents to their East African homeland, immersing herself in the language, religion and culture.
In Canada, the family spent a couple of years living in Saskatoon, where Hodan made friends and attended high school, before returning to Ottawa. Hodan graduated from Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean.
Hodan returned to Saskatoon in 2021, and she was working two jobs before her death — one as a server at a restaurant and another part-time as a translator for Somali newcomers — although her goal was to work in special education. She had planned to begin studies in early childhood education in January at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, a postsecondary institution in Saskatoon.
“We have a baby sister who has an exceptionality and they were really close,” the sibling said. “Hodan wanted to pursue that for her and help make society more inclusive for children like our little sister.”
Hodan was close to all of her siblings and often served as family peacemaker. “She was the sister who got along with everyone,” the sibling said. “I’ve never seen her upset. If there was a petty argument between siblings, she was the mediator.”
Janaza, the Islamic funeral prayer service, was held Friday and drew nearly 500 people, including friends and family members from Ottawa, Saskatchewan and the United States, a turnout the sibling said showed the love for Hodan.
“Anyone she met she became friends with instantly,” the sibling said. “She was the most kind-hearted and trusting of everyone, and just wasn’t as critical of the world as the rest of us. She had so much joy and hope.”
A GoFundMe campaign started by a family member last week to raise money for funeral expenses has surpassed its goal of $42,000 U.S. The sibling said the extra money would go towards building wells and schools in underserved rural areas of Somalia.
“We plan on doing a lot in her name because it’s the basis of our religion, when someone passes, to give to charity in their name because they’re not able to do it anymore,” the sibling said.
To make a donation, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/svxqk-funeral-fund
lsaxberg@postmedia.com
The Ottawa Citizen