Slain teens remembered at Whitefish First Nation wake

The dreams of two teenage lovers began to come trueat a school on a northern AlbertaFirst Nation reserve.

Cory Grey, 19, was the only girl to graduate fromAtikamegSchool's 2015class of six students. DylanLaboucan, 17, was the sole graduatein 2016.

Their families said they planned to leave Whitefish Lake First Nation to attend college wherethey had already been accepted but that they would return and use their education to improve lifefor future generations.

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"That's what they would always talk about, get out of the reserve and go finish their university and come back and make a difference," saidLaboucan'saunt, Brenda Auger. "But now, it's not like that."

On Wednesday, the flag flew at half-mastatAtikamegSchool, where hundreds of people began gathering for a two-day wake forLaboucanand Grey. The young couple was shot to death last week, their bodies dumped on well sites in the community kilometres apart.RCMPare investigating the case as a double homicide.

"It's very shattering for us," Auger said. "This reserve is not going to be the same [without]Dylan and Cory."

Angel Grey said her younger sister would have loved seeing such a crowd gathered at the school.

"If only we were doing this for her grad," Grey said.

She described that day with pride for her little sister she was a glowing graduate in a long red dress and little red scarf.

"That was the first time that she actually wore a dress," Grey said. "She looked very beautiful."

She said that's because her younger sister was very beautiful andLaboucannoticed.

'They were perfect together'

Grey said she remembersLaboucanshowing up for Valentine's Day dinner in 2015.

"He had over six dozen roses and a heart chocolate," she said. "Cory just turned to pink with a big smile.They were perfect together."

Cory Grey was going to study early childhood education at Northern Lakes College.Laboucanwas going to study power engineering. They'd already made a deposit on an apartment. They'd already bought their pots and pans.

Auger said although many family members are angry, they're choosing to have faith.

"We believe that we are going to get our answer to why and who did this," Auger said. "It will come. Our day will come, for Dylan and for Cory."

Chief Robert Grey,Cory Grey's uncle, said emotions have been running high on the reserve, but said he hopes recovery can soon begin.

"They were good kids, I have to say they were very good kids," he said of his niece and her boyfriend.

Angel Grey said she will be strong for her sister andLaboucan.

In a framed photograph on a table surrounded by candles, Cory Grey wears a blue T-shirt with a Superman logo. Her family members wore the same shirt onWednesday.

"It's a very strong feeling for people to be here for (Cory) and Dylan,' Angel Grey said.

A joint funeral will be heldon Friday. The couple will be buried together.