(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

‘It means the world to me’: Anti-violence walk winds through Prince Albert

Jun 13, 2023 | 2:00 PM

Denouncing gang-related violence and encouraging elected leaders to do more to help at risk youth, over two dozen people paraded through Prince Albert on Tuesday.

The three-kilometre walk from the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse to South Hill Cemetary, was organized by April Roberts, whose son Adam Pelletier was shot and killed in October 2020. She expressed her happiness to see the support.

“It means the world to me”, she said through tears. “I am so heartfelt that there’s so many people that came and show they care,” she said.

Tuesday would have been Adam’s 21st birthday, and to mark the occasion a large cake was shared near the space where Adam was laid to rest. A pair of balloons were also tied to the grave marker.

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According to testimony heard during a trial last January, Pelletier was shot with the gun he had brought to a gathering at a house and multiple people had been observed fooling around with the weapon, just prior to it going off.

Pelletier had told friends he was scared and had the gun for protection.

The young woman accused of pulling the trigger, Lynessa Highway, is currently awaiting a verdict. The case is scheduled to return to Court of King’s Bench on June 29.

Roberts explained she’s had a lot of time to process what happened.

“I forgive her,” April said, adding she is looking forward to the conclusion of the court process so she can move on with her life.

“If I hold onto that, I am not going to ever heal right.”

April visits her son’s grave. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Roslyn Badger from Montreal Lake Cree Nation was among the participants in Tuesday’s walk.

“I had friends who were in gangs and they got murdered and it really affected me. By walking with the group it shows I want to end the violence, the gangs and the poverty,” she explained.

One of the speakers at the cemetary, said more needs to be done to help at risk youth, and suggested a facility where youth could go to socialize and also talk in a safe environment.

“That would make like a huge difference,” Badger agreed.

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell