Students from the Cobequid Education Centre in Truro are working to bring healing back to the community of Debert, N.S., following the 2020 mass shooting that took the lives of 22 victims. Each year on the anniversary of the tragedy, the students engage in acts of kindness to honour the victims. This year, they visited Hearts Haven Memorial Park, a place dedicated to two of the victims, Kristen Beaton and Heather O’Brien, and planted forget-me-not seeds throughout the park and along the trail. Shannon Wolfe, a teacher at the school, stated that the planting was intended to promote empathy, compassion, and show that there are positive ways to remember sad events.
The park was chosen as the location for their annual tradition because it represents what the community needs – a place to remember, reflect, and heal. Community member Kevin O’Brien, who frequents the park, appreciates the positive spin that the students are putting on the tragic events, ensuring that the memories of those lost are remembered in a positive way. Student Liam Young expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share the experience with his classmates and make a positive impact on the community. He noted that seeing the kindness, generosity, and respect displayed by his peers on the trail is a true representation of what it means to be in Nova Scotia.
The annual tradition of the students from the Cobequid Education Centre provides a meaningful way for the community to come together and heal from the tragic events of the past. By engaging in acts of kindness and remembrance, the students are able to honour the memories of the victims and promote empathy and compassion in the community. Kevin O’Brien, a regular visitor to Hearts Haven Memorial Park, recognizes the importance of remembering lost loved ones in a positive light, and appreciates the efforts of the students in creating a space for healing and reflection. The students themselves, such as Liam Young, are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the healing process and to make a positive impact on their community.
The actions of the students from the Cobequid Education Centre highlight the resilience and compassion of the community of Debert, N.S., as they come together to remember and honour the victims of the tragic events. By planting forget-me-not seeds throughout Hearts Haven Memorial Park, the students are creating a lasting tribute to the victims, ensuring that their memories are not forgotten. The park serves as a place of solace for community members like Kevin O’Brien, who finds comfort in the positive way in which the students are remembering those lost. The students, such as Liam Young, are grateful for the opportunity to come together as a community and make a difference in the healing process.
In the wake of the 2020 mass shooting that shook the community of Debert, N.S., the students from the Cobequid Education Centre are taking meaningful steps to promote healing and compassion in their community. By engaging in acts of kindness and remembrance each year on the anniversary of the tragedy, the students are ensuring that the memories of the victims are honoured in a positive and intentional way. The planting of forget-me-not seeds at Hearts Haven Memorial Park is a symbolic gesture that represents the resilience and compassion of the community as they come together to heal and remember. Community member Kevin O’Brien and student Liam Young both recognize the importance of this annual tradition in fostering a sense of community and creating a space for reflection and healing.
