Nova Scotia premier asks for moments of silence four years after mass shooting
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is asking the province's residents to pause for a moment of silence at noon on Thursday and Friday to mark the passing of four years since the worst mass shooting in modern Canadian history.
On the night of April 18, 2020, a gunman disguised as a Mountie killed 13 neighbours and strangers in Portapique, N.S., and managed to escape the small community on the Bay of Fundy as RCMP officers converged on the area.
The next day, the killer was driving a car that looked exactly like an RCMP cruiser when he fatally shot another nine people across northern and central Nova Scotia before he was shot dead by two Mounties at a gas station north of Halifax.
The premier says flags at the legislature and all other provincial buildings will fly at half-mast from sunrise on April 18 to sunset on April 19.
Houston's statement includes instructions for those who may need emotional support on those days, saying that community resource navigators can be reached by dialing 211.
Just over a year ago, a public inquiry that investigated the mass shooting released a 3,000-page final report that offered 130 recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy and improve public safety.
"As each day, week and month passes since the events of April 18 and 19, we continue to reflect and remember those lives lost and honour the survivors and all those who have been impacted," Houston said.
"As a province, we must continue to support each other and work together to make changes to prevent something like this from happening again."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2024.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.