The town of Spiritwood and the surrounding area took time to reflect this week on a tragedy that happened a decade ago.
It was 10 years ago on July 7 that RCMP constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages were shot and killed on a rural road outside Spiritwood, following a police chase that began inside the town limits.
A 12-day manhunt for the killer commenced, ending when Curt Dagenais turned himself in to police. Dagenais is currently serving a life sentence after he was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder in 2009.
Ten years later, the emotional wounds are still there for the Northwest community.
But as the 10th anniversary approached, the focus of those impacted most by the tragedy was to move forward and to take further steps to remember Cameron and Bourdages, both of whom were members of the Spiritwood detachment.
The Cameron and Bourdages Memorial Society Inc., a registered charity, has been raising funds for a permanent memorial park in their name. The park will include statues of Cameron and Bourdages when it is finished. It is currently under construction.
Two major events were held in Spiritwood during the week to mark the 10-year anniversary. The first was a fundraising fun run held at SAD SAAC park in the north end of the town. That event in memory of Cameron and Bourdages took place Tuesday morning, July 5 and raised nearly $3,495 for the memorial park.
The second and more solemn event was a feast and memorial service held at the same location July 6, with neighbouring First Nations from Witchekan Lake, Pelican Lake, Big River and Agency Council Tribal Chiefs involved.
The event included a pipe ceremony, and also a traditional feast during the noon hour in which the RCMP officers served food to those gathered.
The afternoon saw a lengthy memorial service that included songs, drums, dances and the traditional grand entry. It included many personal recollections of Cameron and Bourdages from the various speakers.
In attendance were family members of the constables, as well as political dignitaries including MLA Scott Moe and MP Georgina Jolibois, several local and provincial First Nation leaders including Chief Bobby Cameron of the FSIN and several representatives from the RCMP.
Rememberance of the 10-year anniversary was a difficult and emotional day for family members, but they said there was a sense of moving forward this time compared to previous gatherings.
“The first couple of times we came over here, there was a lot of talk about what exactly had happened, with the whole tragedy of it all and stuff,” said Leroy Laliberte to reporters.
Laliberte was Robin Cameron’s brother-in-law.
“This time, it’s more positive. We’re happy that they’re developing something where we get to really talk and hang out,” he said, referring to the memorial park.
“We’re still around that grieving, forgiving, letting go, we’re moving forward now so I’m really happy with that.”
As for how his own family has moved forward from the tragedy, Laliberte remembered his father-in-law, the late Howard Cameron (Robin’s dad), saying “we needed to forgive and move forward. He said that will eventually come. Today, seeing this, it feels like we followed suit with that whole process.”
It has also been a process for members of the RCMP. Not only did they have to deal with the shock of losing two colleagues, but several had to deal with the tragic events directly.
S/Sgt. Barry Thomas was a corporal stationed in Shellbrook who was off duty, but was called in to respond to the situation that night. He and a group of other RCMP officers located the slain officers and had to deal with the situation directly in trying to get medical help to them.
“It was devastating,” Thomas said to reporters.
“To see someone wearing the same uniform I am in the distress that they were in, it hits home. The whole wave of emotions comes over you.”
Thomas admits it has been a process over the 10 years to come to terms with what had happened.
“Everybody deals with it differently,” said Thomas.
“I’ll look at their picture and I’ll be honest, it brings a tear to my eye sometimes. Just because you flashback, you know, but it’s how you deal with it. You say a little prayer, and move on.”
He noted there are other tough and tragic facets of his job that “you don’t want to remember every day, either. Again, it’s part of life and it’s part of what we do day to day.” But Thomas also said “there’s more good days than bad days.”
Natasha Szpakowski was at the memorial to remember her late husband Marc Bourdages, but she was also there as a member of the RCMP who had also been posted to Spiritwood. For their family the emotional wounds are still deep.
“It brings a lot of memories back of the day I got the knock on the door, and talking about what happened to Marc and Robin,” said Szpakowski to reporters.
“But a lot of it has to do with our son, representing Marc and keeping his spirit alive,” she said, referring to their son Luca who was with her at the memorial ceremony.
Luca was a baby when Marc was killed. The toughest part was Marc “has missed so many milestones of Luca,” Szpakowski said.
“He … would have very much appreciated to see the fine young man he’s grown into.”
The most emotional portion of the memorial ceremony in Spiritwood came when Luca read a poem about his dad.
“If roses grow in Heaven Lord, please pick a bunch for me. Place them in my father’s arms and tell him they're from me. Tell him that I love him and miss him, and when he turns to smile, place a kiss upon his cheek and hold him for awhile. Because remembering him is easy, I do it every day, but there's an ache within my heart that will never go away.”
