Vigil marks 25 years since Kelly Lynn Stewner was killed in broad daylight on Portage Avenue

Dozens of family members and friends gathered at a busy intersection in Winnipeg Monday evening, heads bowed in a moment of silencefor the young woman who was killed there in broad daylight 25 years ago.

Kelly Lynn Stewner was a month from her 24th birthday when she was murdered by her estranged husband, Bruce Stewner, on May 6, 1994.

Debra Peary, Kelly's sister, remembers Kelly as a bright, brave woman who loved children and animals. Peary recalled how Kelly would bring Peary's young son to the convenience store where she worked and stand behind the counterwith him on her hip, giving him change to hand over to customers.

"She was so sweet," Peary said. "But she was fiery, and she was feisty and she was opinionated. She was self-motivated, and she was very kind and loving, and I miss her."

Bruce Stewner was sentenced in 1995to life with no chance of parole for 20 years. The judge at the time described it as one of the most viciousstabbings he'd ever seen.

He stabbed Kelly more than 20 times in front of several witnesses after she ran from their vehicle at the intersection ofPortage Avenue and Overdale Street.

In the 25 years since Kelly's death, Peary says, she's thought often of the lunch dates and mani-pedis the sisters could have shared. The two shared a dream of buying a side-by-side house together, and Kelly planned to starta family.

"She had goals. She wanted babies. She married wrong. She was pressured," Peary said. "And it was something we even spoke of the day of her marriage.And I told her she didn't have to do it, but she said to me she had no choice."

Kelly had been separated from her husband for two months and had a restraining order against him when she was killed.

In recent years, Peary has kept close track of Bruce Stewner'sefforts to secure parole. She flew to Abbotsford, B.C., in November2016to give a victim impactstatement and stays updated on his parole applications, even though it's painful.

"Kelly dies every timefor me. Every time," she said.

She feels the judicial system is too lax on offenders such as Stewner, addingit's troubling to see the quality of life and number of days out he's had while in custody.

"I want to make sure that the Parole Board [of Canada] in British Columbia takes note that people have not forgotten," she said. "A life sentence to Kelly is her whole life. A life sentence here is 25 years. That's all."

Bruce Stewner's most recent application for day parole was denied in 2019, whenthe appeal division of the parole boardnoted that Stewner's parole had been revoked in the past "due to a lack of transparency involving relationships and substance use."

According to parole documents, Stewner violated the conditions of his 2012 release by using drugs and frequenting prostitutes.

Stewner was granted day parole again in 2016, butended up back in prison.

Stewner has another application for temporary unescorted absences in July, Peary said.

Kelly's sister-in-law, also named Debra Peary, says it was important to mark the 25th anniversary of Kelly's death at the spot where she died, in public, to bring the case back to the public eye.

She first met Kelly when Kelly was seven, and remembered her as a happy kid.

"She was always smiling. She always wanted to make everybody else smileShe was funny. She was silly," she said.

"She wasjust an all-round good kid and she grew up to be a really good woman. So [I'm]really proud of her. Really, really proud of her."

Kelly Lynn Stewner Murder,May 6, 1994:

Kelly Lynn Stewner Murder: May 6, 1994

5 years ago

Duration 2:52

Kelly Lynn Stewner died after being chased through Portage Ave. traffic and stabbed several times by her estranged husband Bruce James Stewner. Horrified onlookers tried to stop the attack but failed.