Honourable colleagues, two months have passed since Nova Scotians woke up on a Sunday morning to news of a violent rampage which left 22 people dead and others injured, including RCMP Constable Chad Morrison and the murderer’s spouse, a victim of domestic assault.

The now late Silver Donald Cameron described those tragically killed as people defined by service: a teacher, a social worker, two correctional officers, a long-term care worker, four nurses, an RCMP officer, a retired firefighter and others — all known not just by what they did for a living but by how they lived — musicians, hockey mums, gardeners, parents, grandparents, people who liked fishing, salsa dancing, leather work. They are RCMP constable Heidi Stevenson, Lisa McCully, Heather O’Brien, Jolene Oliver, Aaron Tuck, Emily Tuck, Kristen Beaton, Sean McLeod, Alanna Jenkins, Tom Bagley, Joey Webber, Greg Blair, Jamie Blair, John Zahl, Elizabeth Joanne Thomas, Lillian Hyslop, Dawn Madsen, Frank Gulenchyn, Gina Goulet, Corrie Ellison, Joy Bond and Peter Bond.

They were known and they were loved.

Rachel Creaser wrote a piece on Nova Scotia which resonated with me which I cite:

She is a beautiful place. She has a rich history of culture from her first people, the proud Mi’kmaw nation, to those who came thousands of years later, the British, the French, les acadiens, the black loyalists, the Dutch, the Lebanese and more. People from all over have come here and helped to make her what she is today — a proud place with humble people. She is surrounded by ocean, full of natural beauty, full of music and art. She is beautiful. She is home. I tell you this because I want you to understand what this tragedy means to a place like this. Everyone in Nova Scotia knows someone who knows someone who died. Everyone is grieving. Everyone needs to be together but can’t. Will she ever be the same? I can’t answer that. But I do know she will rise, her people will lift each other up, their kindness and love and humour and generosity will lift her to her feet again, even if the tears never stop falling. You may never have been here, but when you come, you will not leave. And she will whisper welcome home as the waves crash on the shore; trust me, it will happen to you as it has happened to me.

Colleagues, as summer wraps her sweet warm salty arms around our beloved province of Nova Scotia, may the families and friends of the victims of this tragedy find peace and feel the loving embrace of all Canadians. Thank you, wela’loq