Permanent memorial set up for Nova Scotia mass killing victims

A permanent memorial to the 22 victims of last month's mass killings in Nova Scotia has beenset up at a former churchon Highway 2 inPortapique, N.S.

On Friday, members of the community were out dismantling items from the makeshift memorial that emerged at the end of Portapique Beach Road.

The rampage unfolded over about 13 hours, beginning in the smallcommunity of Portapique the night of April 18 and ending the next morning at a gas station in Enfield,nearly 100 kilometres away, after the gunman was fatally shot by police. Hekilled 22 people.

People who live along Portapique Beach Road and Orchard Beach Drive are hoping the new memorial will help life return to normal in the area.

Gary Brown, a Portapiqueresident of nearly 20 years, saidtraffic onthe dead-end roads have been bumper-to-bumper with people stopping to see the old memorial.

"It just felt like you werein a zoo," Brown said. "So we thought that maybe if we move it here, people can stop and look and respect the losses that we've had and give the people that live on the road a little more peace and quiet."

Brown helped with the new memorial on Friday. He knew some of the people who were killed last month and was home the night the rampage began.

With the memorial gone, he said there's nothing to see anymore.

Tom Taggart, a West Colchester, N.S., councillor whorepresents an area that includes Portapique, saidresidents want to continue to honour the 22 victims. But he said people who live nearby also need a break from the painful reminder.

"You'll see people standing there crying. This is not a tourist attraction, this is a genuine place," Taggart said.

Taggart said the new memorial, located on private property,will be nicer and could possibly include a rock garden. He said he hopes visitors to the memorial will stick around and take in some of the natural beauty of the area.

If you are seeking mental health support during this time, here are resources available to Nova Scotians.