July 29, 2022
This update shares a recap of this week, including information discussed during witness testimony, as well as details surrounding the upcoming break in public proceedings.
What Happened This Week
This week, we heard testimony from two senior RCMP officers. First, Chief Superintendent Darren Campbell, who served as Support Services Officer for RCMP H Division during the mass casualty. He spoke to his experience and roles, information management during a critical incident, public communications during and after April 18 and 19, 2020, post-event learning, and further context regarding his involvement during the mass casualty. We then heard from Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, who was Criminal Operations Officer for the RCMP in Nova Scotia at the time of the mass casualty. He discussed his activities on April 18 and 19, 2020, post-event communications, internal and inter-agency communication after the mass casualty, the establishment and activity of the Issues Management Team, and lessons learned. Both officers spoke to their experience and roles, and information management during a critical incident, and responded to questions from the Commission counsel and Participant counsel.
Recordings of this week’s proceedings are available on the Commission website, so you can watch public proceedings and follow our work at a time that works best for you.
Proceedings Resume August 22
Proceedings will resume the week of August 22, when we will hear from two senior RCMP witnesses: retired Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman and Commissioner Brenda Lucki. In the meantime, the Commission’s work will continue, including preparing for the coming witnesses and for the activities focused on developing recommendations to help keep communities safer.
Please note, the next update will be sent the week before public proceedings resume.
Public Submissions
Through the public submissions page on our website, please keep sharing your suggestions for recommendations or ideas you think we should consider in our final report, including recommendations to help keep communities safer.
As you watch proceedings or read documents that have been shared, you may hear about topics with which you have personal or professional experience, including community safety, policing or violence. Maybe in the past you have thought about ways things could be better, from existing support systems, to laws or policies. If you have changes you would like to see in your community, recommendations you would like us to consider or information you think we should review, you can share it with us as a public submission.
Public submissions will be open until September 1, 2022. If you prefer to share your input directly please contact the Commission. You can email info@masscasualtycommission.ca or call 902-407-7532 (local) or 1-833-635-2501 (toll-free).
Upcoming
There are now 31 comprehensive Foundational Documents and more than 2,600 source materials available on our website. In addition, there are 17 Commissioned Reports, supplementary investigative reports, and policy documents. More documents will be shared over the coming weeks to support the overall understanding of what happened, and how and why it happened. The Commission’s Phase 3 activities will start at the end of August, focused on informing recommendations through consultations with stakeholders and the community. We will be sharing more information in the coming weeks.
Stay updated
Thank you for your continuing engagement.
If you know others interested in receiving these updates, please point them to the sign-up link on our homepage or email us directly. We also encourage you to pass along how people can take part and prepare to share their experiences and perspectives. We welcome hearing from you anytime via email to info@MassCasualtyCommission.ca or by calling either 902-407-7532 (local) or 1-833-635-2501 (toll-free). We are also regularly sharing updates about how to take part via our website, Facebook and Twitter.
Mental Health and Wellness Supports Available 24/7
Please remember that supports are available if you or a loved one need them, both on-site at the proceedings and through the Commission’s website.
Sincerely,
The Mass Casualty Commission
Hon. J. Michael MacDonald, Chair
Leanne J. Fitch (Ret. Police Chief, M.O.M.)
Dr. Kim Stanton