Using responsible social distancing, several units of the RCMP in the North District posed for a photo, which will be sent to Nova Scotia. (Submitted photo/ Staff Sgt. Brian Kelly)

By Nigel Maxwell

‘It could have been any one of us’: local RCMP send support to Nova Scotia

Apr 23, 2020 | 2:00 PM

A Staff Sgt. with the Prince Albert RCMP detachment says the death this month of a fellow member in Nova Scotia, has hit the entire RCMP family very hard.

There are a total of 22 victims as a result of the mass shooting incident in Nova Scotia last weekend, including 23-year RCMP veteran Constable Heidi Stevenson. Brian Kelly told paNOW with RCMP training being centralized, it’s very common for members from different parts of the country, to cross paths at one time or another.

“In our north district we know people that were in training with Heidi, people that have family connections back to Nova Scotia, people that have work matters and friends back in Nova Scotia, so there are still quite a few connections that people dont realize,” he said.

The sad reality of the shooting incident last weekend, is that it could have happened anywhere. Few people will forget a shooting in the Spiritwood area in 2006, which claimed the lives of RCMP members Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages. A third officer was also injured.

“[The shooting incident in Nova Scotia] just brings back the vigilance that we have to face every day when we go into work,” Kelly said. “It could have be any one of us, on any call we do day-to-day.”

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In the past when a regiment funeral is held for a fallen RCMP officer, detachments have sent a number of members to attend to pay their respects, but due to recent social distancing protocols that option is not available. So instead detachments from across the country have been showing support in other ways, including sending a photo.

“There is still some planning for later on about some type of regimental memorial service but it’s all up in the air,” Kelly said.

Kelly acknowledged now in the past week the Prince Albert detachment has received some flowers from the public, as well as food and a card from the family of another fallen member.

“You know that connection to the RCMP is understood by those families when we do lose someone so it was pretty nice for them to come in and show their support,” he said.

The photo being sent by the Prince Albert detachment includes several different units and representatives from victim services, traffic services, as well as plain clothed members of the general investigation section (GIS).

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell