New Brunswick

Haiti school honouring N.B. Mountie nears completion

Construction on the vocational school in Haiti being built to honour RCMP Sgt. Mark Gallagher will wrap up by the end of next month.

Moncton-area RCMP officer Sgt. Mark Gallagher died in massive 2010 earthquake

Construction on the vocational school in Haiti, being built to honour RCMP Sgt. Mark Gallagher who was killed in the massive 2010 earthquake, will wrap up by the end of next month.

Gallagher, a well-known Moncton-area RCMP officer, was in Haiti on a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Friends, family members, colleagues and others launched a project to build a school in his memory.

Richard Blaquiere, who is with one of the groups involved with the project, says the school has encountered all kinds of delays — everything from squatters to hurricanes.

But things are on track, and he's sure Gallagher would be proud of the school.

"He was very, very much into education. He had plans to come back to Canada after his last trip to Haiti and work with a principal here in setting up communications between the school in Haiti and here. You know, I think he'd be pleased with what's happening" said Blaquiere.

The school will offer five courses, picked by people who live in the area.

It's expected to open this fall.