Inquiry into Nova Scotia mass killing holds first of four community open houses
About 50 people from the community of Debert, N.S., turned out to meet investigators from the commission of inquiry investigating the mass killing that claimed 22 lives in the central and northern parts of Nova Scotia last year.
Sunday's gathering at a local community centre was the first of four so-called open houses to be held this week by the commission, which began its work 11 months ago.
Over the course of the two-hour meeting, people gathered at tables in small groups and in one-on-one conversations with about 20 inquiry investigators.
Barbara McLean, director of investigations for the commission, said the informal format of the open houses is meant to allow people from the community to talk directly to the inquiry teams.
"Open houses are not unique to this commission, other commissions have used them," said McLean. "It's a way to bring the work of the public inquiry to the community."
McLean said participants can simply relate their experiences or can take the opportunity to provide the commission with information relevant to its investigation.
She said it also gives the commission a chance to explain its work and to make connections with community leaders who will be important in helping to implement the recommendations the inquiry brings forward.
"The goal of tonight and the other engagement sessions is to get people involved," she said.
Victoria Dickie from the nearby community of Meaghers Grant, N.S., said she found the meeting helpful and "a little bit reassuring."
Dickie, whose nephew Joey Webber was one of the gunman's victims, said she had a list of questions that she put to investigators. She said she left the list with them.
"One question I had was what criteria do they use to decide who they are going to interview and what documents are they are going to subpoena," said Dickie. "Apparently they are still in the process, so it's still an ongoing thing."
However, not all who attended where pleased by a format that had no formal presentation or open question-and-answer session.
"Right here it's nothing but noise," said Joy McCabe.
McCabe lives next to the firehall in Onslow, N.S., where two Mounties fired shots at the building during the hunt for the gunman. She witnessed what happened from her kitchen window.
The officers were eventually cleared by the province's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) which said they had reasonable grounds to believe a man outside the hall was the killer.
McCabe said there has been a lack of information about what happened as far as she's concerned.
"We have to have answers," she said. "We have PTSD, we have anxiety. It's so hard to go to go to work everyday and work through it."
The R.C.M.P have confirmed that on the night of April 18, 2020, a gunman disguised as a Mountie set fire to several homes and killed 13 people in nearby Portapique, N.S. Over the next 13 hours he evaded police while killing more people he knew and others at random.
The rampage ended after the killer was fatally shot by police at a gas station in Enfield, N.S., north of Halifax. All told, he drove across an area covering 100 kilometres while at large.
The inquiry is scheduled to begin public hearings next month in Halifax with an interim report expected by May and a final report to be filed by November 2022.
Commission chair Michael MacDonald, a former Nova Scotia chief justice, has said the commission's role is not to lay blame or find criminal or civil liability. He said it will be a fact-finding exercise that will determine how to prevent similar tragedies.
The inquiry can also make findings of misconduct. There's been no word yet on who is on the witness list.
As part of its work, inquiry staff walked through areas of Portapique during a visit in early June. The group included members of the investigations, legal, research and community engagement teams.
The visit was aimed at understanding the geography of the area where the killings occurred and where some survivors hid or fled through wooded areas as the gunman burned residents' homes.
On Monday the commission will hold another open house in Truro, N.S., before moving on to the communities of Millbrook, N.S., on Tuesday and Wentworth, N.S., on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.