Newfoundlander in Nova Scotia 'paying back' support he received after his own tragedy
Dave Brown, now living near Portapique, lost his son 5 years ago in St. John's
Dave Brown knows what it feels like to lose a loved one in their prime.
The Carmanville, N.L., man is now living in Debert, about 20 minutes away from where a gunman began a rampage on Friday night in Nova Scotia.
He didn't lose anyone in the path of the killer, but Brown can relate to what the families are going through and is doing his best to repay the support people gave him five years ago when his son was struck by an SUV and killed in St. John's.
"The feeling that I got from people there was amazing," Brown said of the community support he received after Tristin's death. "And I just pretty much decided to pay it back that way. Nothing else you can do, right?"
On Sunday morning, Brown was seen by news crews pinning broken hearts made from construction paper on a light pole in Portapique. He made a card to go with it, which read, "Our hearts and prayers are with you and the community."
Brown said the shooting has stirred up old feelings for him, things he felt after his son died at the age of 17.
"When stuff like this happens, we've got to rally together as people with loved ones in the community and just show everybody bad things happen, but we're still good people here," he said after putting the message on the pole.
Joe MacLean, originally from Cape Broyle but now living in Enfield, N.S., is honouring those killed in the rampage as well — and grieving the loss of a friend.
Tom Bagley was a retired firefighter. His daughter said he died trying to help people after an explosion in the mountain community of West Wentworth.
MacLean moved to Nova Scotia decades ago to become a firefighter, too. He counted Bagley as one of his oldest and best friends. MacLean said he's been in contact with his firefighter friends to talk about the loss of their colleague.
He wishes there could be a funeral, but they'll be left to grieve in their own homes as long as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
With files from Bailey White