It was an emotional day in Mayerthorpe, Alta., as residents marked the 10th anniversary of one of the worst mass police shootings in Canadian history.
A candlelight vigil was held at Fallen Four Memorial Park Tuesday, to commemorate the lives of RCMP officers Lionide Johnston, Anthony Gordon, Brock Myrol and Peter Schiemann.
On March 3, 2005, the four Mounties were fatally shot by James Roszko as they investigated a marijuana grow-op at his rural property. Roszko, who had an extensive criminal past, also died.
The tragic shooting left an indelible mark on Canada, as residents from coast to coast expressed shock and sadness. It remains the worst one-day loss of life in RCMP history.
Then-town mayor Albert Schalm said he “vividly” remembers everything about that dark day.
“It’s one of those days I don’t think I’ll ever forget,” Schalm told CTV’s News Channel ahead of the vigil.
Schalm recalled first hearing about an RCMP-involved incident in the morning, but news was slow to trickle in.
“We found out mid-afternoon that there was not just one RCMP (officer) that was involved, there were four,” he said. “And our jaws just dropped – how could there be four?”
Though the killings left an imprint on the community, residents are moving on, Schalm said.
“The town has changed somewhat where we have new residents that have moved in that weren’t here at the time, so they look at it a bit differently.”
Schalm said that on the anniversary, he’s choosing to reflect on the “value that these four young men brought to our communities and brought to our country, because I think that’s the legacy that we need to put forward.”
Loss still fresh
Cpl. Lee Johnston, the twin brother of fallen Mountie Lionide Johnston, said he tries to pass along all of his memories to his young children, who never knew their uncle.
In an interview with CTV Edmonton Tuesday, Lee Johnston recalled one of his proudest moments: handing his brother his RCMP badge as the pair joined the force.
“It was one of the best moments,” Johnston said.
The 42-year-old Ottawa man said he remembers learning that his gravely injured brother was able to fire a shot during the ambush.
“He never gave up, he never stopped fighting,” Johnston said.
“I hope he remembered how much he was loved in his last moments, how much he was cared about.”
Rev. Don Schiemann, father of Const. Peter Schiemann, said the loss of his son is still fresh 10 years later.
"You're always thinking of what you were doing when you first found out," Schiemann said in an interview with CTV Edmonton on the eve of the anniversary.
Schiemann said his son was aware of Roszko and the dangers of policing. But he never worried about him.
"Maybe there was some naivete on my part," Schiemann said. "It never happens to you, it never happens to your family, it's not going to happen to us.
"And then it happens."
Schiemann said the public “needs to realize” the sacrifices that police make on the job.
He said his heart goes out to Shelly MacInnis-Wynn, whose husband, Alberta RCMP Const. David Wynn, was killed in the line of duty in January.
"The first year is just miserable," Schiemann said of the grieving process.
But Schiemann said there are reasons to smile today, including his seven grandchildren.
In his home, photos of the children share a table with images of their uncle Peter.
"Peter's death was a great loss to us, but we can't become so focused on our losses, that we forget the new blessings that God gives us," he said.
With files from CTV Edmonton’s Susan Amerongen and David Ewasuk
