HALIFAX – New Glasgow will continue to mourn the death of Amber Kirwan with the construction of a monument on a local walking trail.
The design for the memorial was unveiled Thursday at its future site on the Sampson trail.
The 19-year-old disappeared in October and was found dead nearly a month later.
Chris Falconer will appear in court Friday to enter a plea on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Read –Timeline: Amber Kirwan homicide
Family, friends and community members searched relentlessly for Kirwan during the weeks she was considered missing and held candlelight vigils in hopes she would come home safe.
In the wake of her death, a group of community citizens has planned the memorial and worked with town officials to see the project through.
Local companies Creative Metals, MacIvor & Stewart Masonry Inc. and Arseneault Monuments are going to provide the materials for the monument – to be made of wrought-iron, brick and granite.
Two other businesses – A. W. Leil Cranes and the Investors Group – will donate benches for the site and Proudfoot’s Home Hardware, where Kirwan worked, will provide flowers and greenery. Read more below.
Mariea Leil-Bowser is one of the people who volunteered in search efforts and is one of the organizers of the Kirwan monument.
At Wednesday’s design unveiling, she said Kirwan became known as “Pictou County’s Angel” and her murder was a tragedy felt by the entire community.
She said the monument was also a way to pay tribute to the community that showed so much support in trying to find Kirwan.
“Let’s not see the monument as a sad reminder of what happened to Amber, but rather as a memorial meant to remind our community of the beautiful and special person Amber was and to always be careful no matter where you are,” she said.
Many people wanted to see a permanent monument to remember Kirwan. During the weeks she was believed to be missing, a makeshift monument of flowers, candles and other mementos spread along a wall on George St.
The wall was part of a private property and the tributes were cleared away after Kirwan was laid to rest.
Leil-Bowers said the group organizing the monument discussed the proposed location with Kirwan’s parents, Marjorie and Donald, and decided the Sampson trail would be the perfect spot.
“We chose the Sampson Trail because it is a public place where people could go and sit by the river whenever anyone felt he or she wanted a tranquil place to honour Amber,” she said.
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