WATCH ABOVE: It started with eight white ribbons and has quickly transformed into something organizers never quite imagined. As Eric Szeto reports, the white ribbon campaign to honour Const. David Wynn has not only taken over St. Albert, it’s transcended provincial borders.
EDMONTON — As people across the country prepare to say their final goodbyes to St. Albert RCMP Const. David Wynn, the procession route for his funeral was lined with hundreds of white ribbons on Sunday.
Organizers of the United in Light white ribbon campaign say the ribbons are a symbol of community support. The white ribbons have been hung all around St. Albert since last weekend’s shooting inside a local casino.
The white ribbon campaign was started by Debbie Raymond, who has lived in St. Albert since 1988. She said she simply couldn’t sit idle following the tragedy.
“This is an incredible community and I just felt, ‘Wow, this is a dark time. We need to do something,'” she said. “The white ribbons are significant to show everyone that we’re going to put some light back into our life here in St. Albert.”
Raymond knew she couldn’t do it alone, though, so she enlisted the help of a friend and quickly the pair was joined by hundreds of people offering to help. The campaign is now nation-wide.
“[There] are literally white ribbons from coast-to-coast now,” said Raymond.
“The RCMP offices and dispatches throughout the country are displaying white ribbons and bows. How many are in their communities? We just have no idea,” she explained. “Our best guess is between 15,000 and 16,000 bows and ribbons in our community alone.”
While the enormity of the campaign was Raymond’s vision when she set out six days ago, she says she’s incredibly overwhelmed by how wonderfully people have embraced it.
“St. Albert truly is a remarkable place. This is one of the most amazing communities to live in,” she said. “We’re resilient and you know what? This has been a very dark time and we will be okay. We are going to get through this.”
Wynn, 42, and Auxiliary Const. Derek Bond, 49, were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle inside the Apex Casino last Saturday when they were both shot by 34-year-old Shawn Rehn. Bond was released from hospital after being shot in the arm. Wynn never regained consciousness after being shot in the head; he passed away in hospital Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: Alberta RCMP officer involved in weekend shooting dies
Condolences have been pouring in from across the country since last weekend’s tragedy.
On Sunday night, the St. Albert Merchants hockey team will show its support for the fallen officer by donating all of the proceeds from ticket and 50/50 sales to a trust fund that’s been set up in Wynn’s memory. The players will also be wearing RCMP stickers on their helmets for the rest of the season to show their support.
The game starts at 8 p.m. Sunday at St. Albert’s Akinsdale Arena.
The St. Albert Alliance Church is opening its doors between 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday evening for a public visitation for Wynn. Family, friends and emergency personnel were given the chance to pay their respects earlier Sunday afternoon.
An RCMP regimental funeral will be held for Wynn at Servus Place in St. Albert on Monday afternoon. Thousands of people are expected to be in attendance, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Global News will be livestreaming the funeral.
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