Moncton RCMP memorial proposals unveiled

The wives of the three New BrunswickRCMP officers murdered in Monctonlast June attended apublic presentationshowingthe five short-listed concepts for a permanent artistic memorial to the men.

TheRCMPofficers killed on June 4, 2014 were:

• Const. Douglas JamesLarche, 40, from Saint John.
• Const. Dave Joseph Ross, 32, fromVictoriaville, Que.
• Const.FabriceGeorgesGevaudan, 45, originally fromBoulogne-Billancourt, France.

The five artistic memorialproposals, with the firsttwo fromNew Brunswick, are:

• Byers Harrison Studios (Darren Byers and Fred Harrison) from Wards Creek.
• Peter Powningfrom Markhamville.
• Morgan MacDonald from Newfoundland.
• Illarion Gallant from British Columbia.
• James C. Smith from Ontario.

The ideas include a nine-metre-high obelisk, large silver maple leavesand different sculptures representing the three constables.

Three of the five proposals include porch lights. People across Canada left their porch lights on in the days after the shootingsas a tribute to the officers.

Peter Powning

"I've chose a single monument form. The ancient form of the iconic obelisk," saidPowning.

"[If my idea is selected], the RCMP and the wives of the constables will collaborate with me determining what goes on a bronze relief area of the obelisk."

IllarionGallant

Gallant, from Victoria, says his two-part concept is called Fallen Leaves.

"The main part is the three leaves. It has a time capsule below, which I hope will be filled by the community," he said."The second piece is more of a monument. It talks about various aspects of the red serge."

Fred Harrison andDarrenByers

Harrison and Byers have planned threelife-sized figures of the Mounties emerging from three spires.

"I want the people to feelcompassionfor people who try to do what they feel is right,"said Harrison. "They depict events in these [officers'] lives."

MorganMacDonald

MacDonald's idea includes statues of the three officers in a circle, facing outwards, with their backs to a porch light.

"My vision was to have the three men back-to-back, but also to have a central community light that made reference to the social mediahappeningsthatoccurredduring that time."

James C.Smith

One of the larger proposals came from Smith, of Madoc.

"Basically the proposal is to create three paths that arc toward a central raised feature that has three granite obelisks that carry bronze plaques, and at the entrance to each pathway is a gateway that has information about the philosophy and the spirit of the RCMP."

The site for the memorial will be along the riverfront behind the Press Club in Moncton. A selection committee will meet with the artists Thursday, and a final decision will be made on the anniversary of the shootings, on June 4.

Two officers were also wounded in the same shootings that killed the three Mounties. They are:

• Const.ricStphaneJ.Dubois.
• Const. MarieDarleneGoguen.