Moncton residents plant trees, wear red to remember fallen RCMP officers

MONCTON – Residents in Moncton are working to pay their own special tributes to the city’s fallen RCMP officers leading up to June 4.

On Saturday, residents in the city’s North End will plant 125 trees in memory of the Mounties. The neighbourhood is where the officers were killed and residents were caught in a lockdown zone while police searched for the shooter.

Jeff Mowat is one of the organizers and says bringing the community together is an important part of the city’s ongoing healing process.

“We’re going to plant trees in groups of three as a subtle homage to the three fallen officers the whole length of the street from where the incidents happened all the way up to Mountain Toad,” he said.

The group raised $45,000 dollars for the trees.

Dwayne Hayes is also helping to organize the event and says what happened on June 4 was a traumatic experience for everyone.

“It was surreal to have someone walking through your neighbourhood armed like he was in a movie,” he said. “It was happening in real time but it was so unbelievable to be occurring in the neighbourhood where your kids play ball hockey and soccer and ride their bikes.”

But he says bringing people together to play music, join in activities and thank first responders helps people move on.

“It’s an opportunity for them to reflect on past events and to be able to move forward as well,” he said.

The City of Moncton helped deliver the trees to the site. Moncton councillor Dawn Arnold said the event gives people the chance to be part of something special.

“This is an amazing event because it’s going to allow everyone in the community to come together and be a part of something,” she said.

Others are organizing nation-wide events.

Jason Surette speaks for Big Hearts Small City, a community group that’s inviting all Canadians to wear a red shirt on June 4 in memory of the fallen officers.

“Wearing a red shirt is a simple duty but it says a lot,” he said, noting he also wants people to turn on their porch lights.

Moncton residents were asked to keep their porch lights on while police searched for Justin Bourque.

“It just shows the love we have for our law enforcement officers and to remember the fallen officers that gave their lives that day for us,” he said.