Wesley Petterson. (Submitted photo/RCMP)

By Jaryn Vecchio

One-Year Later

Weldon Mayor remembers fateful day neighbour died in mass stabbing attack

Sep 2, 2023 | 4:02 PM

September 4, 2022, is a day people in the James Smith Cree Nation will never forget and the same can be said for those in Weldon.

Eleven people were killed during a stabbing spree that shocked not only the province but the entire country.

All but one of the murders happened on the First Nation with the Village of Weldon losing one of its more beloved community members; Wesley Petterson. The 78-year-old was the oldest person and the last to die on that fateful day.

Weldon’s Mayor Ron Clayton was Petterson’s neighbour and told paNOW he still remembers the day vividly.

“I was sitting in my big chair here looking out the window. I didn’t see directly what happened, but I watched that (black SUV) come in here and I thought it was his friend because they drove the same vehicle.”

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Clayton noted he hadn’t seen the description of the vehicle mentioned in the RCMP’s dangerous persons alert. It wasn’t until paramedics showed up that he knew something was wrong.

“I kind of walked over and thought maybe Wes was sick but then they told me,” he said.

It’s hard for Clayton to comprehend that Petterson has been gone, as of Sept. 4, for a year. He explained he still lives next to his grandson, who was in the home when Petterson was attacked.

“I’m with him lots and he’s doing fine,” said Clayton.

The Village hasn’t planned anything to recognize the one-year mark. The community thought it should be Petterson’s family who decides whether anything was done with Clayton explaining he hasn’t been told of any event.

However, they were invited by the leadership of James Smith Cree Nation to join them as they recognize all those who died and were injured.

Meanwhile, the Village has plans to honour Petterson.

Clayton said they’re leaning toward creating a new playground in his name.

“He was always sitting around the old playground; he would always go and clean up the garbage. He (also) loved to see the kids playing.”

The idea is still being discussed by the Village’s council, so the potential cost and timeline aren’t available.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow