Mounties remember tragedy in Spiritwood, Sask. 10 years later

A northern Saskatchewan town marks a sombre anniversary this week,rememberingtwo fallen officers who were killed bygunman Curtis Dagenais.

This Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of a shooting that killed constablesRobin Cameron and MarcBourdagesin Spiritwood, Sask., about 175 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

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On Tuesday, a five-kilometre run was held in honour of the fallen officers.One of the participants was Sgt. Brian Kelly, who works in human resources for the Prince Albert RCMP.

Kelly hadn't returned to Spiritwood since he responded to the call when the officers were killed 10 years ago.

"I responded to the call when it happened, when they were shot. So, it was important for me to come back and make an appearance and run in their name," Kelly said.

At the time, Kelly was based out of Regina and working for the emergency response team. He said at least 100 officers from the province and beyond went to Spiritwood to help.

"It was an intense time for sure. All of us had jobs to do and you know, we teamed up and we banded together and got the job done," he said.

It was July 7, 2006 when theRCMPmembers whodied were on their way to questionDagenaisabout an alleged assault on his sister.

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Instead,DagenaisledRCMPconstablesCameron andBourdageson a 30-kilometre pursuit through gravel roads before shooting and killing the two Mounties. A third constable, MichelleKnopp, was shot three times but survived.

Dagenaisfled the scene and sparked an 11-day manhunt before turning himself over to police on July 18.

Kelly said after all these years, he hasn't forgotten the experience.

"It stays with you forever I guess. You do discuss it after the fact. It's a memory that does stay with you for a long time," he said.

Raising fundsfor a memorial park

Sgt. Shannon Haggarty with the Spiritwood detachment said the purpose of the five-kilometre run was to raise money to build a memorial park in the town remembering Cameron and Bourdages.

Haggarty, who sits on the Cameron and Bourdages Memorial Society in Spiritwood, said after the town donated some land near the museum,the groupplantedtrees in the park and raised money to develop amemorial park.

While she wasn't posted in Spiritwood 10 years ago when the two officers were killed in the line of duty, she said the deaths sparked emotions provincewide.

"Of course it affects all of us.We're a small division of 'F' Division and across Canada we know one another.We do the same duties.We feel each other's pain, and we are a big family whether you're a spouse or family member or an officer," she said.

"It did affect all of us 10 years ago and it's hard to believe it's been 10 years.So this is just our way to show we haven't forgotten the two members."

With about 40 participants in the run, Haggarty said she hopes to make it an annual event to remember the two officers.

She addedthe events from 10 years ago are still really fresh in everyone's mind.

"It's a big part of Spiritwood and our history now, as everyone has heard about the events that happened and the way the community pulled together back then and they still do every day.We have a great support here in Spiritwood and the surrounding communities," she said.

For Wednesday's memorial service, RCMP members from across the province are expected to attend and pay their respects.

More events this week

This week the town has organized a number of events. On Wednesday, a pipe ceremony together with a traditional feast will kick off a memorial service where the two fallen RCMP members will be remembered and honoured.

Members of theRCMP'sF Division are expected to attend, as well as dignitaries includingFSINChief Bobby Cameron and northern Saskatchewan MPGeorginaJolibois.

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The families ofConst. Cameron andConst.Bourdagesare also expected to attend the ceremony.

Life sentence for Dagenais

A three-week trial in 2009 ended with Dagenais being found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He received a life sentence.

During the incident a decade ago, Barb Tipewan with the RCMP remembers feeling terrified, praying for her two colleagues who were in pursuit of Dagenais.

"I worked with them pretty closely, you know," Tipewan told CBC News.

"When you work with members you develop that working relationship with them and they become part of your family and you become part of their family.

"When I think about it, I get so emotional and thinking about it, 10 years, to me it just seems like yesterday."

Tipewan recalls the manhunt for Dagenais, adding how she didn't feel safe even in her home.

"[We] were terrified because this guy who just shot two members, we didn't know where he was, for all I know he could've been anywhere," she said.