Riverview Girl Guides plant trees to honour Moncton Mounties

Some New Brunswickers are still trying to find ways to remember the three RCMP officers who were fatally shot and two others who were injuredby JustinBourque in Monctonin June.

On the weekend, aRiverview park added a small tree memorial to the slain and wounded officers.

Dorothy Gray, the district commissioner of the Riverview Girl Guides, said the organization received money to plant trees in the neighbouring town.

So they came up with a plan to plant five maple trees along the Petitcodiac River, in a horseshoe formation.

They are planted in honour of the five constables, who were involved in the incident on June 4 in Moncton. And yesterday at the ceremony two ofthe two surviving RCMP constables were in attendance, which made it very meaningful, Gray said.

Abby Fisher, the mother of one of the Girl Guides who helped plant the trees, said it was important for the guides to be a part of the dedication.

We tell them that they put their lives on the line for us every day, and we need to show appreciation, she said.

The memorial, located on Hillsborough Road, at the east side of the GunningsvilleBridge, is meant to serve as a site of reflection and remembrance, officials said.

Community reaction

The night of theMonctonshootings has been etched into the memory of many people who live in the north-end neighbourhood.

JoanMacAlpine-Stilessaid she will never forget what she saw outside her house that evening.

"I just opened up the window, and here's this guy walking across my backyard, donned in camouflage with two rifles and looked like Rambo from the TV show,MacAlpine-Stilessaid.

Monctonhas reached out to peoplewho live in the part of the city that was in thelockdownzone during the shootings and sent them brochures with information abouthow to identify psychological changes after a traumatic event.

Bourque pleaded guilty in Augustto three charges of first-degree murder and two charges of attempted murder after shooting five RCMP officers.

A sentencing hearing is being held Mondayand Tuesday in Moncton.

The Crown is seeking three consecutive life terms, which could mean 75 years in prison for Bourque, who was 24 at the time of the shootings.