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
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Custom baseball card released of Blue Jays fan struck in the face with foul ball
Liz McGuire, the Blue Jays fan who was struck in the face with a 110 m.p.h. foul ball last week, has been pictured on a custom baseball trading card applauding her fandom to the game.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Pro-Palestinian protesters expected to meet with U of T administration
Pro-Palestinian protesters who have set up an encampment on the University of Toronto campus are expected to meet with school officials today.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
Beer Store planning to 'thrive and adapt' as Ontario announces changes to alcohol sales starting this summer
The Beer Store says it is looking forward to the next stage in its “evolution” as the province rolls out an accelerated timeline for expanding retail alcohol sales in Ontario.
Here's what every key witness said at Donald Trump's hush money trial. Closing arguments are coming
After 22 witnesses, including a porn actor, tabloid publisher and White House insiders, testimony is over at Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.