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Hundreds gather for parade in memory of Robin Mercer-Sproule

Friends and family of lifelong N.W.T. athlete Robin Mercer-Sproulegathered Saturday for a vehicle parade that ran through Yellowknife, passing significant locations to her life.Mercer-Sproule died May 16 after her second fight with cancer.

Lifelong N.W.T. athlete died May 16 after second fight with cancer

Over 150 vehicles gathered at the Multiplex in Yellowknife on Saturday afternoon. (Danielle d'Entremont/CBC)

Friends and family of lifelong N.W.T. athleteRobin Mercer-Sproulegathered Saturday for a vehicle parade that went through Yellowknife, passing locations significant to her life.

Over 150 vehicles gathered at the Multiplex on Saturday afternoon, many with multiple people inside and decorations such as balloons, hockey jerseysand streamers on the outside.

"She wanted to do it all," saidhigh-school friend Gail Nesbitt.

Some of the vehicles were covered with homemade robin decorations. (Danielle d'Entremont/CBC)

"Robin was just one of those athletes that took to every sport and she excelled in just about every sport that she played."

That's why the vehicle parade will pass by the Tommy Forrest ballpark and hockey rinks where Mercer-Sproule played during her 38-year career.

Mercer-Sproule died on May 16after her second fight with cancer. She was 56.

'Legend of the Northwest Territories'

Melinda Coombswas one of Mercer-Sproule'slong-time friends, and was at the parade on Saturday. She said it was no surprise that so many people gathered in her friend's memory.

"She was a legend of Northwest Territories ... she meant everything, all over the world."

Melinda Coombs says she knew Mercer-Sproulefor many years, and that she was a legend in Yellowknife and in the territory. (Danielle d'Entremont/CBC )

The parade also passed by city hall, where Mercer-Sproule and her wife Traci Mercer-Sproule got married in 2016. The paradeended at the couple's home.

Nesbitt saidfriends and family got the idea for theparade after Yellowknife real estate giant Les Rocher died last month.

Hundreds of vehicles gathered at the Multiplex in Yellowknife so they could file along the streets to celebrate Rocher, ending the parade at hishome in Old Town.

Robin Mercer-Sproule, third from right, and friends during her stagette party in 2016. From left to right: Cecile Beemer, Gail Nesbitt, Heather Redshaw, Juanetta Sanderson, Shara Shupe, Robin Mercer-Sproule, Lana Larocque, Melinda Harris. (Submitted by Gail Nesbitt)

With files from Danielle d'Entremont, Lawrence Nayally, and Joanne Stassen