Published Apr 17, 2025 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 4 minute readA couple pays their respects at a roadblock in Portapique on April 22, 2020. Friday marks the fifth anniversary of the mass casualty event that took the lives of 22 people in Portapique and the surrounding area. Photo by Andrew Vaughan / The Canadian PressFriday marks five years since the worst mass casualty event in Canadian history began in the Nova Scotia community of Portapique.On the evening of April 18, 2020, a 13-hour rampage by shooter Gabriel Wortman took the lives of 22 people and wounded two others. The ensuing manhunt that gripped the province ended in Enfield, where the perpetrator was shot and killed by RCMP officers.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe somber anniversary was recognized by politicians and the chair of the progress monitoring committee for the Mass Casualty Report with calls to remember those lost and a vow to make communities safer.Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said in a statement that Nova Scotians continue to hold the families, survivors and communities in their thoughts.“As each day, month and year passes, we continue to reflect and remember those lost, and we continue to support survivors,” read the statement. “These events were deeply felt by all Nova Scotians, but no one can truly understand the depth of the loss for those most impacted.“I continue to be inspired by your courage and your strength. Know that we stand with you today and every day. We remain Nova Scotia Strong. We will continue to work with municipalities, the federal government and the RCMP to make our communities safer. We are unwavering in our commitment to make real change.”Houston asked Nova Scotians to observe a moment of silence at noon on April 18 and 19th. Flags at Province House and all provincial government buildings and institutions will fly at half-mast on those days.Article content Friday marks the fifth anniversary of the shooting rampage that killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18-19, 2020. Top row, from left: Dawn Madsen and Frank Gulenchyn; Kristen Beaton, who was pregnant at the time of her death; John Zahl and Elizabeth Joanne Thomas; Gina Goulet; Lisa McCully. Middle row, from left: Lillian Hyslop Campbell; Sean McLeod and Alanna Jenkins; RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson; Jamie and Greg Blair; Peter and Joy Bond. Bottom row, from left: Heather O’Brien; Joey Webber; Emily Tuck, and her parents, Jolene Oliver and Aaron Tuck; Tom Bagley; Corrie Ellison. Photo by Herald FileKilled in the rampage that extended through several communities in the central part of the province were Tom Bagley, Kristen Beaton and her unborn child, Greg Blair, Jamie Blair, Joy Bond, Peter Bond, Lillian Campbell, Corrie Ellison, Gina Goulet, Dawn Gulenchyn, Frank Gulenchyn, Alanna Jenkins, Sean McLeod, Lisa McCully, Heather O’Brien, Jolene Oliver, Aaron Tuck, Emily Tuck, Const. Heidi Stevenson, E. Joanne Thomas, John Zahl and Joey Webber.The Mass Casualty Commission’s final report detailed that Wortman began his killing spree after assaulting his common-law wife of 19 years, Lisa Banfield, at their rural property in Portapique.Since Oct. 18, 2024, seven women in Nova Scotia have been murdered by intimate-partner violence.NDP Leader Claudia Chender, in a statement, asked that the lives of those lost in the senseless act be remembered by taking action against intimate-partner violence.“As we mark the fifth anniversary of the mass casualty that began in Portapique, we pause to reflect on the 22 lives that were taken, honour their memories, and commit to continued support for all Nova Scotians and the work being done to ensure a future where this never happens again. We also mark the lives that have been tragically lost to violence in the intervening years.Article content“Thanks to the tireless advocacy of communities and organizations, intimate partner violence has been recognized as an epidemic in Nova Scotia, and we’re slowly seeing long-awaited increases in funding to the sector. Needed work on justice, community safety, and other remaining recommendations from the Mass Casualty Commission is moving forward but requires continuing support and funding.“By remembering, we honour those we lost and ensure their memories shape the future we fight for.”In October 2020, the Mass Casualty Commission, led by J. Michael MacDonald, a former chief justice of Nova Scotia; Leanne J. Fitch (a retired police chief) and Dr. Kim Stanton, was established.The seven-volume 2,934-page final Mass Casualty Commission report released on March 30, 2023, made 130 recommendations, including major changes to RCMP oversight, processes and culture; a process to rethink the structure of policing in Nova Scotia; a national review of public alerting; a greater focus on addressing and preventing the root causes of violence, including gender-based violence, intimate-partner violence and family violence; and an expanded and more collaborative model to ensure community safety and well-being.Article contentMyra Freeman, chair of the progress monitoring committee, said work will continue to advocate for change to make communities safer.“We also remember those who have been lost in the years since April 2020, who were deeply affected by these events,” said Freeman’s statement. “We turn our thoughts to those who continue to experience the impacts, both physical and psychological, in the years that have passed.“We remain committed to monitoring and reporting publicly on the initiatives that the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, are undertaking in response to the Mass Casualty Commission final report. We will take the time to mourn and reflect, and then we will continue our work.“We extend our deepest sympathies to all those who have been impacted by the mass casualty. We all have a part to play in bringing about change to make our communities safer and appreciate the efforts of everyone who continues to advocate for these changes.”Article content
Fifth anniversary of mass casualty brings pledges to make communities safer
