October 6 marks 20 years since USJE member Louise Pargeter’s tragic death in the line of duty as a Community Parole Officer in Yellowknife, NT. On October 2, National President David Neufeld and RVPs Carol Osborne, Annie Blanchette and Jeff Sandelli had the honour of joining the unveiling of a newly restored bench memorializing Louise’s life and service.
Louise was a mother, partner, and daughter, and she was loved by numerous friends and colleagues. Her death was a horrible tragedy, and it not only sent shockwaves through the tight knit group of Community Parole Officers, but also deeply impacted the USJE membership.
Originally installed between 2005-06, the construction and installation of the bench was funded by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) employees from across the country. The location, overlooking Great Slave Lake, was chosen as it was a place that Louise and her partner frequently visited. The plaque’s inscription reads as follows:
“This bench is dedicated in honour and loving memory of Louise Jayne Pargeter
mother, daughter, lover, fisher, friend of so many … larger than life.
Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery”
Now that the bench has been restored, it once again offers a place for reflection and tranquility and reminds us of Louise’s values of compassion, service and commitment to those under her care.
USJE attended the bench unveiling ceremony as members of The Advisory Committee on Community Safety and Operations (ACCSO). ACCSO is an advisory committee involving representatives from USJE and the CSC, which was established following Louise’s death, and exists to ensure safe working conditions within CSCs community operations. USJE members that serve on the ACCSO committee are: Sean Hickey, Marie-Pier Spellman, JR Legault, Audra Andrew, Morgan Haupt and Joe Brathwaite.
In the fall of 2008, the USJE National Executive established the Louise Pargeter Scholarship in remembrance and honour of our fallen sister. This scholarship fund was set up to fund two separate scholarships in the amount of $2500 each.
