Speaker:
Christine Blair, Mayor Municipality County of Colchester
Mayor Blair said she was going to do her talk without slides as her subject is a difficult one for slides. She reviewed the situation of Portapique and other communities during the mass murder of April 18th and 19th and the aftermath. 2020 has been a horrible year – the worst pandemic, Canada’s worst mass murder, the loss of military in a helicopter crash, a missing 3 yr old, and a Snowbird crash. All of these occurrences are extremely difficult, operationally, and emotionally.
The council was already meeting weekly regarding COVID, but then focus changed. There was shock regarding murders, relief when came to end, then sadness and disbelief at the devastation, and the impact of the loss of 22 people and an unborn child. It is unimaginable, so senseless, in our beautiful, idyllic Colchester.
In the days following, Christine did 22 media interviews in 6 days, answering questions from her heart. There have been emails, phone calls, Facebook messages, gifts from around the province, the country and around the world, as far as New Zealand and the U.K. There have been many fundraisers. Tim Hortons sold NS donuts, raising $1.4 million. There were 4,000 donuts sold at the Debert location alone. Run Tribe organized a 5 km virtual run. 1581 people took part and raised almost $69,000. The Colchester council voted to pay for the funerals of the 22 victims, requiring staff support and coordination with funeral homes. One local home donated services. There was a plan to protect the privacy of the Portapique residents with heightened security and blocking of unwanted visitors. Some of the commissionaires donated their time. Counseling services were provided at four locations. There is a recognition that grief and trauma issues will be ongoing. There was cleanup at Portapique and Fero dumpsters.
provided. It is hoped that there will be a joint effort with neighboring municipalities to memorialize the victims.
So many services were involved – 911, RCMP, police, firefighters, paramedics, hospital staff, investigators, mental health counselors, businesses, etc. The RCMP has interviewed 600-700 witnesses. The investigation is still ongoing. Mayor Blair says we can find comfort in how the community has responded, in NS, in Canada, and around the world. These are signs of hope and love.
There were several questions. Christine held up a beautiful gift from Ontario – a quilt with Nova Scotia strong logo, and the photos of the victims printed onto fabric. It will be put up in the office. School children have sent hand prints, others sent hearts, cards, etc. There is a memorial centre at a church on E. Montrose Rd. The fresh flowers keep on coming. The owner of the church is keeping it maintained. In her opinion, there will be an investigation. It is a sensitive issue. The people first on the scene walked into hell. There is a lot of trauma regarding this. She is seeking support from other mayors – what kind of memorial? Need support of families. Will the memorial be centrally located? Something in each community? Unknown. Groups such as the NS Remembers Legacy Society and Rotary Cares are meeting. Police vehicles go to auction with all equipment removed. The uniform and the decals were a big problem. The guns came from the U.S. Trust has been shaken, our sense of security. There will be a long healing process. We will never forget.
Lech thanked Mayor Blair for her touching presentation.
.png)
