TISDALE—Tisdale EMS, RCMP, Fire Department and Northeast Regional Victim Services gave a moment of silence tribute for Cst. Heidi Stevenson, who died on duty during a recent Nova Scotia shooting spree.
The April 18 and 19 shooting, in which the gunman dressed as a police officer, took 22 lives— plus the gunman’s.
Across the country, RCMP stations held tributes on April 24, and others were invited to wear red.
The Tisdale memorial service started with local paramedics and firefighters doing a drive by colour parade in their vehicles— before stopping in front of the RCMP station.
The representatives then exited and stood in a line away from each other, with two members per vehicle.
Facing the road and waiting for them in a line formation were members of the RCMP detachment, as well as members of Northeast Regional Victim Services.
After a moment of silence, Sgt. Wanita Minty, the head of the Tisdale detachment, gave a speech.
“[It’s been] a rough five to six weeks for us as first responders,” Minty said. "All of you are doing your share, same as we are, and then we have had a tragedy on Sunday that just added to our already stress. Coming here and showing your respect for us means a lot and we feel the same about all of you. I didn’t know Cst. Stevenson, but she gave the ultimate sacrifice and we’re all here to show our appreciation for her and have sympathy for her family and loved ones.”
Stevenson was a 23-year veteran of the force and a mother of two children, one in Grade 6 and the other in Grade 8.
Other victims include Sean McLeod, Alanna Jenkins, Lisa McCully, Emily Tuck, Jolene Oliver, Aaron Tuck, Jamie Blair, Greg Blair, Corrie Ellison, Gina Goulet, Tom Bagley, Kristen Beaton, Joey Webber, Lillian Campbell Hyslop, Dawn Madsen, Frank Gulenchyn, Heather O'Brien, Joy Bond, Peter Bond, John Joseph Zahl and Elizabeth Joanne Thomas.
