Portapique Archives - The Pictou Advocate

Love, in a quilt

November 11, 2020November 10, 2020Jackie Jardine

From unimaginable tragedy has come beauty and colour and warmth, and it is hoped, some comfort. Handmade quilts in the colours of Nova Scotia tartan will be warm hugs to the families of the 23 innocent victims in the Portapique tragedy of April 18-19 who were murdered by gun or by fire; three others were...

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Governments establish joint public inquiry in response to April tragedy

October 23, 2020October 23, 2020Pictou Advocate

The joint public inquiry in response to the April tragedy in Nova Scotia has been established and the commissioners will now begin their work. The Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia announced their intent to establish a comprehensive joint public inquiry in July. The inquiry will help determine what happened and will make recommendations to...

Mass shootings return fear

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020Jackie Jardine

Fear is something Jean Dwyer thought she left behind when she moved to Nova Scotia. The New Glasgow resident moved here from Alabama three years ago. She says, “I do my best to spend as much time as I can here,” and jokingly refers to herself as a “Trump dodger.” But she is serious when...

Artist inspiration

April 24, 2020April 24, 2020Pictou Advocate

Local artist Elisa Rutledge shared with The Advocate this picture that she painted after the sunset on Monday evening. She says she was inspired to do it after seeing the myriad of social media posts from people sharing photos of the sunset and candles that were lit to honour the memory of the victims from...

Teenager, mother create memorial at CEC for slain friend

April 24, 2020April 24, 2020Raissa Tetanish

TRURO – When Courtney Ann Singer went crying to her mother in the middle of the night after learning a friend was killed, Courtney’s mother knew she had to do something. Glenda MacDonald and Courtney decided to head to Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro to create a memorial for Courtney’s friend, Emily Tuck. Emily, 17,...

Wear red today

April 24, 2020April 24, 2020Pictou Advocate

People are being encouraged to wear red today in honour of all of the victims in the tragic events that unfolded in Portapique and surrounding communities last weekend. At 2 p.m. today, RCMP members and employees will honour RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson, who was killed in the line of duty, by observing a moment of...

Sheree Fitch says poem “flowed” out following news of mass shooting

April 24, 2020April 25, 2020Raissa Tetanish

RIVER JOHN – With the news of a mass shooting in Portapique and other parts of the province on Sunday, Sheree Fitch, like so many others, went to bed that night upset. She didn’t sleep well, and the tears were freely flowing by the time she woke up. It was the first time in a...

Heart-broken

April 23, 2020April 30, 2020Jackie Jardine

School friend says victim was “amazing friend” Wynter Connors looks back on her school years and smiles through her tears as she remembers her friend, Alanna Jenkins. Jenkins was among the 22 victims in the shooting and arson rampage that began last Saturday night in the community of Portapique in neighbouring Colchester County. She and...

Corrie Ellison – “He’s a hero, plain and simple”

April 22, 2020April 22, 2020Raissa Tetanish

TRURO – Corrie Ellison will always be Ashley Fennell’s hero. “He was a kind soul,” said Ashley, about her friend for close to a decade. “He would always go out of his way to help people.” Corrie, 42, was one of 22 people who died in a mass killing spree April 18 and 19 that...

Sean McLeod and Alanna Jenkins – “They lived a life that they loved”