April 18 marks the 4th anniversary of the tragedy of the mass casualty event in Portapique, Nova Scotia when 22 individuals lost their lives through the senseless actions of a lone gunman.
USJE once again wishes to extend its heartfelt sympathy to all those directly and indirectly affected by this tragedy, including the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured or terrorized during the events, all members of the RCMP, Correctional Service of Canada, other first responders, as well as the broader community of Portapique who were impacted.
Many of USJE’s members in Nova Scotia — who are public safety personnel — were profoundly affected by this tragedy given that many have key operational roles with the RCMP and CSC operations. Some of the psychological impacts on these employees have yet to be fully acknowledged.
We know this day will never be forgotten by them, or the many Nova Scotians whose lives were changed forever by this horrible event.
On behalf of all USJE members, we wish to take a moment to recognize the significance of this day and to honour the memory of the individuals that were killed, and the families whose lives were forever changed and who continue to mourn.
We also wish to echo the recommendations made by our colleague Johanne Charest, Regional Deputy Commissioner in her commemorative web post where she encourages anyone who needs to seek help and support:
Please know that support resources are available for anyone who may need them during this time. If you are struggling in any way, I encourage you to talk with someone you trust, reach out to an EAP referral agent, and/or access the EAP, which is available to employees and eligible family members, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day: 1-855-709-2477.