A potted orchid and a sign that says 'I mourn' were placed outside the Noor-Ul-Islam Mosque in Barrie on Monday morning.
A woman who did not want to be identified brought the poster with two markers for others to sign.
"I just want to take a stand," the woman said, struggling to describe her reaction to the horrific shooting at a Quebec City mosque.
"I can't even say. Just so sorry. Sad. This needs to stop," she said, getting emotional.
Bak Ikram, in Barrie for business, arrived to pray at the mosque.
"Shocking. That never happened in Canada," he said. "Very unfortunate and very shocking. It could have happened to any community, unfortunately it happened at that mosque."
The Barrie Mosque on Ferris Lane says it is 'touched' by the flood of phone calls and emails of condolence and support during these 'tense moments.'
"Sad news after us having a community open house at our mosque yesterday for about four hours," said Imam Mateen Butt in an interview.
The faith leader expressed gratitude for the messages left at the front door and the wider reaction.
"Nice to see we are a united community. I'm very grateful we've got so much support. Our friendship is great and people are standing with us in tough times. Everybody is united."
There are about 250 Muslim families in Barrie, he said.
The Mosque Community says it is 'grieved and shocked at the senseless killings of worshippers' at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City.
'Hate towards humanity and Islamophobia has killed innocent Canadians. We pray for those who have lost their lives, the injured and their loved ones. We request all peace loving people to stand against hatred towards humanity in any form,' a statement said.
Barrie Police called the Imam first thing this morning to discuss security but he says there are no immediate plans to add any measures, pending word from police.
'We're in good hands,' he said, noting that there are six other churches on Ferris Lane, the OPP union office is located directly next door and Barrie Police are practically neighbours.
"We have a very good relationship," he said of Barrie Police. "We call them over for different events. They patrol our parking lot and stand in our parking lot."
The mosque says it 'rejects blaming any community, culture or religion for these in-human acts.'
"We are all Canadians and we are all bound by this tragedy together. We reaffirm our commitment to live together in peace and abandon all those who try to divide us through hatred and violence."
Imam Butt says the Barrie Mosque is not a political organization but he did concede:
"We really worry about what's going on south of the border," he said.
"It's our responsibility to educate people on Islam and the fact is it is built on uniting nations."
Worshipper Ikram echoes the Imam's sentiments about unity.
"It should be seen as an act of terrorism. It should not be seen as attacking any single community. We should all be united against this, whether it be against any community or religion. It doesn't matter."
Still, there is worry.
"I don't think somebody's going to do that in Barrie necessarily but nobody thought they were going to do it anywhere else," said the woman who left the sign.
