Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette remembered at Blairmore vigil
Alberta toddler's body found the day after RCMP discovered her father had been killed
A balloon release honouring the life of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette was part of the vigil held Friday night in Blairmore, Alta.
The two-year-old's body was found Tuesday just one day after her father's body was discovered.
Derek Saretzky was charged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of indignity to a body in Hailey's death. He is in police custody and will next appear in court in Lethbridge on Sept. 23.
The deaths have left the small community in shock, and emotions were raw as the crowd gathered on Friday.
Many people travelled from all over Alberta, some without any connection to either the Dunbar or Blanchette families.
Catherine Mews came with her daughters and grandchildren from Pincher Creek to honour the life of the little girl.
"It's really struck us, our girls, my oldest, she's finding it very tough, and me with my grandkids, I want to hold them closer and keep them safe," she said.
The colourful balloons released to the sky each had the number two on them for Hailey's age.
Neighbours clutch balloons with "2" on them, for Hailey's age. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blairmore?src=hash">#Blairmore</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbc?src=hash">#cbc</a> <a href="http://t.co/CUWdpFValW">pic.twitter.com/CUWdpFValW</a>
—@StephWiebeCBCBalloon release, honouring the life of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HaileyDunbarBlanchette?src=hash">#HaileyDunbarBlanchette</a> in her last community, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blairmore?src=hash">#Blairmore</a>. <a href="http://t.co/7mTNZBa34i">pic.twitter.com/7mTNZBa34i</a>
—@StephWiebeCBCOther vigils planned
Some motorcycle riders in Calgary are organizing a ride on Saturday at 10 a.m. from Longview to Crowsnest Pass in memory of Hailey and her father.
Organizers are calling the fundraiser Ride for Hailey and Terry.
"We all have kids, or grandkids, or nieces, or nephews," said Troy Carlson, one of the organizers. "This one hits pretty close to home. I'm quite an introverted person and I tell you this tugged at the old heart strings."
They'll be collecting donations and delivering them to the Pure Country Saloon where Blanchette worked. The money will be used for a memorial park bench at a playground where Hailey liked to use the swings.
Restaurant manager Tammy Tracey fondly remembers her co-worker as someone who could cook a "mean steak."
She also remembered how Blanchette would bring little Hailey in for a visit and how the young girl loved vegetables over any sweets.
"She had just found out she loved corn on the cob," said Tracey.
According to the Facebook group In Memory of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette there are candlelight vigils for Hailey and her father being held at the following locations:
- Olympic Plaza in Calgary on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m.
- Kin Coulee Park in Medicine Hat, Alta., on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m.
- Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo, B.C., on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8:30 p.m.
- Victoria Quay in Port Alberni, B.C., on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m.
- Rotary Park in Cranbrook, B.C., on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.
- Holland Park in Surrey, B.C., on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.