WATCH ABOVE: A prayer walk was held in west Edmonton Friday night to pay tribute to fallen EPS Const. Daniel Woodall. Shallima Maharaj has the details.
EDMONTON – Carrying flowers, many dressed in blue, more than 100 people took part in a community prayer walk Friday night to honour and remember fallen EPS Const. Daniel Woodall.
The walk was held in the same west Edmonton neighbourhood where Woodall was fatally shot Monday night.
“I think we really need to support our police officers, all of them and their families,” said Lucy Sidor, who lives in the Ormsby Place neighbourhood.
“It’s the police officers that our hearts go out to, and their families. The little boys, you know, it just breaks your heart to think of that, of what they’d be going through – the grief and the sorrow.”
The walk was organized by several faith-based leaders. Reverend David Tiessen of St. Matthias Anglican Church says it gives people the opportunity to spend time together and heal.
“It’s a chance for us all to gather visibly together in a tangible way, in a concrete way,” he said. “From whatever faith, background, tradition that we happen to come from, to be able to simply keep silence, hear some words that would inspire faith.”
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The flowers were offered as a symbol of hope, but also to remind people of the fragility of life. As they made their way through the streets of Ormsby Place, walkers stopped from time to time to reflect and say a prayer. The streets, like many in Edmonton, were lined with blue ribbons.
“I think it’s important for the community to come together and support each other,” said Meena Ramaswamy.
“Our homes are our safe place and I’ve always felt safe in my neighbourhood and just this week there’s been a lot of fear and confusion,” she said. “So I think it’s really important to make this statement and band together and support each other to reclaim our safe place.”
READ MORE: How to show your support for Woodall family, Edmonton police
At the end of the walk participants used blue ribbon to tie their flowers onto a cross. They also fastened their words of condolence onto the cross. Among the messages hung a stuffed teddy bear with the words “Thank You, #EPSSTRONG” written across the belly.
“We’re all in this together and we’re all here for each other and can lean on each other in tough times,” said Ramaswamy.
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Woodall was one of several officers who arrived at the west Edmonton home Monday night on an arrest warrant when they were fired upon. Sgt. Jason Harley, 38, was treated for a gunshot to his lower back and was later released from hospital.
A regimental funeral for Woodall will be held on Wednesday, June 17 at 11:30 a.m. at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.
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