Wentworth, N.S. – A new approach to bereavement services for the people affected by the mass shooting in northern Nova Scotia nearly four years ago is set to be offered by an established palliative care organization.
The non-profit Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association (NSHPCA) plans to collaborate with community organizations and Nova Scotia Health to design and deliver care in Colchester County, East Hants, and Cumberland County. Alana Hirtle of the Rotary Club of Truro expressed hope on Friday, stating, “Hopeful, is where we are,” and emphasizing the need for this work.
In April 2020, a gunman disguised as an RCMP officer killed 22 people across northern Nova Scotia, including many of his neighbors in Portapique. The Mass Casualty Commission, which led the public inquiry into the shooting, recommended a program to address residents’ unmet needs for mental health, grief, and bereavement support.
The two-year, $2.3 million project aims to start in the northern region and then extend to the rest of Nova Scotia in 2025, thanks to an $18-million fund announced last spring. The program will focus on long-term impact rather than immediate solutions, pulling together new and existing grief services and addressing mental health with trauma-based methods.
NSHPCA’s president, Ann Cosgrove, emphasized the importance of addressing both grief and trauma on an individualized basis, as not everyone handles it the same way. The province has also made investments in the northern region, including new positions at Nova Scotia Health and mobile health clinics. Additionally, a new transportation pilot project offers free rides for residents to get to non-urgent health and wellness appointments.
Alana Hirtle of the Rotary Club of Truro highlighted the importance of these investments but noted that they have been a “mixed bag” for residents, expressing concerns about inconsistent services. Minister of Addictions and Mental Health Brian Comer highlighted the significant investments made and expressed hope that the new approach will eventually spread across the province, acknowledging the need for support everywhere.
In the years to come, Hirtle hopes that the new approach makes a difference, stating, “Death impacts all of us and grief is a reality. Grief is the price of love. And you know, we all could probably have more tools in our toolkit to deal with it when it happens to us.”