Memorial for Nova Scotia shooting victims

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Brenda Fitzgerald and Eldon Cooper had planned a 1 p.m. moment of silence in their Tillsonburg driveway Friday afternoon.

After seeing the morning news, and the RCMP and National Police Federation’s request for people across Canada to wear red in honour of the victims of the mass shooting in Nova Scotia on April 18-19, they considered expanding their tribute into the neighbourhood.

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Fitzgerald invited friends and neighbours to join them on Wilson Avenue – maintaining safe social distancing space. Some residents of Edwin Crescent also participated on their street a couple of blocks away.

“All week I’ve been wearing this Nova Scotia tartan because we lived in Nova Scotia for a while, and it’s really hit us hard,” said Fitzgerald, who is originally from the Port Dover area and moved to Tillsonburg about five years ago.

“We were from the south shore, but I called a neighbour who, of course, knows someone who has about four connections to various people who have been affected. And that was just my call to the neighbour. We had heard it in the morning, that there was someone in a police cruiser, obviously a mock-up police cruiser… and it’s just been devastating all week.

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“I’ve been wearing my tartan and I probably will for a while yet.”

The afternoon tribute included Leo Archdekin singing O Canada, followed by two minutes of silence, then Fitzgerald and Cooper playing Amazing Grace on flute and violin – a last-minute addition to their tribute after a friend suggested the idea.

“This is just basically in the last hour that we’ve put this together,” said Fitzgerald.

“I’m wearing the red,” said Joan Clarkson, who’s parents were from Nova Scotia. “It’s just nice to have people come out.”

“We moved here from Nova Scotia, we’ve just been here (Tillsonburg) for six years,” said Jeannette Tomsett. “My husband (David Tomsett) was in the Canadian Navy for 25 years, we lived there for many, many years.

“There’s a few people here from Nova Scotia.”

The Tomsetts had lived close to the area of north Nova Scotia where the shootings took place.

“Very close,” she nodded.

“Also, my husband’s son-in-law, his cousin and wife were shot. They were the last two they found on Sunday night. Peter and Joy Bond, David’s son-in-law’s cousin, they lived in Chester where we were and they sold their home a few years ago and moved there (Portapique). And… they’re gone. Terrible.

“And my daughter-in-law’s parents live are right near there. It’s sad.”

cabbott@postmedia.com