PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – A memorial of candles, flowers and keepsakes continues to grow as loved ones pay their respects to a woman they thought of as a “fearless leader.” Daina Gauthier, 27, was fatally stabbed in downtown Prince Albert in the early hours of Thursday morning. Prince Albert Police have charged two teenagers, a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, with second-degree murder. “It is just senseless and we cannot understand it,” said Trevor Henry, a good friend of Gauthier’s. Gauthier, who was a mother, is being remembered for her kindness, compassion and respect towards others. “She was a gem of a friend,” Henry told CTV News. “There were always hugs and ‘I love yous’ between us.” Henry visited the memorial on Sunday. He took off his jacket and left it at the site, along with a necklace and a stuffie, symbolic of Gauthier, who he said would give the shirt off her back to help others. “She had a way to love people,” he said. Kanyssa Merasty also stopped to pay her respects. She said Gauthier, who was affectionately known as Baby Moose, was caring and selfless. Gauthier would give her food to eat and a warm place to stay, Merasty remembered. “She would make sure everybody was doing okay before she took care of herself,” Merasty said. Gauthier’s friend Ada James will remember her smile, laughter and love of bikes the most. James said Gauthier passed on wisdom and lessons to everyone she met. “When she spoke, she had everyone’s attention,” James said. “She was a leader in this community.” The accused teenagers remain in custody until their first court appearance on Tuesday. Their identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Prince Albert Police say there are no other suspects in Gauthier’s death. Officers do not anticipate any additional charges.
