RCMP Const. David Wynn's funeral to be attended by Stephen Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will attend the funeral of slain RCMP Const. David Wynn in St. Albert, Alta., on Monday.
Wynn died on Wednesday morning, four days after he was shot in the head during a routine licence plate check at the Apex Casino, northwest of Edmonton.
Officials expect thousands to attend the regimental service, which will begin at 2 p.m. MT.
Among the many expected to attend, one man will be there at the specific request of Wynn's widow.
"Oh man, it was overwhelming, I didn't expect it — Shelley Wynn personally called which was just, you know, I was really glad to hear her voice," NovaScotia paramedic and musician Kevin Davison told CBC News.
Wynn asked Davison, who worked alongside her husband for several years, to perform his song When Those Sirens are Gone at the funeral. The song is a tribute to first responders and highlights post-traumatic stress disorder, which many experience.
"For [Shelly] to ask me, the only thing I could say was 'I'm so honoured,'" Davison said. "As a friend and colleague of Dave's, this is something I kind of need to do.
"It's going to be hard to get through that song on that day. I can feel my voice shaking now just thinking about it."
Regimental procession
RCMP officers and representatives from police and military forces across Canada will take part in a funeral procession before the regimental funeral.
Members of the public are welcome to line the route to watch the procession, which will start at noon on Monday.
The procession will start at the Holy Family Parish near the intersection of Poirier Avenue and Sir Winston Churchill Avenue, then head east along Poirier Avenue before turning north on Campbell Road. From there, it will turn east into the Servus Credit Union Place.
Road closures along the route will be in place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A park and ride service will also be available to transport mourners to and from the procession route.
The procession had originally been scheduled to start at 1 p.m. but was shifted to noon to ensure there is time for a full procession prior to the funeral.
CBCNews.ca will be live streaming from the procession and funeral, beginning at 1:30 p.m. MT. In St. Albert, the Arden Theatre will broadcast a live feed of the funeral.
A public visitation will be held Sunday night at the St. Albert Alliance Church. Flowers are also being accepted at both the St. Albert City Hall and RCMP detachment.
Support fund set up
A second officer, Aux. Const. Derek Bond, was also shot and is recovering at home.
His family issued a statement through the RCMP on Friday expressing sympathy to the Wynn family and thanking the public for their messages of support.
"Derek's recovery is progressing, but this remains a very difficult time for us," the family wrote.
The RCMP Veterans Association Edmonton Division has set up a support fund for the families of Wynn and Bond. Donations can be made at any CIBC branch in Canada.
