Former Nova Scotian reacts to killing spree in Portapique

As more information about the situation in Portapique, N.S., comes out, Canadians across the country are left confused and angry about the rampage that ended with 17 dead, including an RCMP officer and the man accused of the killings.

Regina’s Amber Morse grew up in Nova Scotia and lived there until 2009, at which time she moved to Saskatchewan.

“Every community there is a small community, similar to Saskatchewan. Everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everybody’s families and their loved ones,” she said Sunday. “It’s very similar to Saskatchewan, actually. This is definitely my Nova Scotia away from Nova Scotia.”

She said even though she doesn’t know anybody who lives near Portapique, she still had many different emotions running through her head when she first heard the news.

“I think I was angry that this is happening. It always confuses me that people can do these types of things and then I was just sad. I called some people that I am still connected with. I called my mom who still lives in Nova Scotia and just followed up to see how everybody was feeling,” said Morse.

“People are confused (and) shocked. This happened not that long ago in New Brunswick and the thought of it happening again, especially right now (when) everybody is supposed to be working together, it’s just strange.”

Morse believes that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is going to get in the way of people’s ability to properly deal with this traumatic situation.

“It’s a different time in the world right now in general so I think it’s going to impact people maybe even a little bit harder,” she said.

“(It’ll be difficult) not being able to say goodbye to the people that have been affected by this, to be able to say goodbye to your loved ones or the people in your community. You can’t get together to grieve. It should be interesting and very sad how people are going to be able to deal with this and mourn the right way.”