People of Amherst, N.S., gather to grieve for family of six that died in fire
The community of Amherst, N.S., came together on Friday to collectively grieve the loss of six of their own who were taken much too soon.
All six members of the family -- two adults and four children -- were tragically killed after a fire burned in their camper trailer in Millvale, N.S., nearly two weeks ago.
The heartbreak felt by an entire town was evident as hundreds of people gathered at Victoria Square in downtown Amherst Friday afternoon to show their support.
"The grieving and the loss that we feel with an entire family gone in one moment -- its a hard concept for anyone to gather," said Amherst mayor David Kogon. "I've never been through anything like this. And I think to start the grieving process, one really has to begin with this."
At the public memorial, the community heard memories of each member of the young family.
Michelle Robertson's cousin Molly Ferdinand said Michelle was a loving mother of four.
"As long as her children were safe and happy, the rest didn't matter," Ferdinand said.
Ferdinand said Michelle's partner, RJ Sears was a fun-loving and kind father.
"What I loved about RJ the most was how good he was to Michelle and the kids," Ferdinand said.
Madison was the oldest child, but just 11 years old.
"She took her role as big sister very seriously," Ferdinand said. "She was very tentative and protective of her younger brothers."
Eight-year-old Ryder, always followed in his father's footsteps.
"He was a happy content little baby, and when he became older, he just wanted to do everything dad was doing," Ferdinand said.
Four-year-old Jaxson was considered by many to be an old soul.
"He loved his big brother and quickly tried to keep up with him," Ferdinand said.
Of three-year-old CJ, the youngest of the four children, Ferdinand said: "Being the baby, and also having health concerns at the start, he got away with a thing or two."
Amherst Fire Department members served as the honour guard, along with teachers from Cumberland North Academy where three of the children attended school.
"The children, the friends, the family members, of the four little ones are going to have a real difficult time dealing with that loss," Kogon said.
The outdoor ceremony was granted an exemption from public health to allow for this larger gathering, as long as participants could show proof of vaccination and remain masked.
For those who attended, it seemed like a small concession in order to show their support at such an important time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.