HAY RIVER REMEMBERS WORDEN

Two Years After Murder, Town Gathers For Vigil To Honour Slain RCMP
Officer

HAY RIVER - Residents in Hay River came together to remember RCMP
Const. Christopher Worden last Tuesday night, two years after he was
shot and killed while on duty.

More than 50 people gathered as the first sub-zero wind of the season
whipped through Hay River.

Meeting at city hall, people handed out candles and spoke in hushed
tones.

The vigil proceeded to the RCMP station, where event organizer Kevin
Wallington said a prayer and encouraged people to share memories of
Worden.

"I wish I'd gotten to know him better," he said.

"It still hurts," said Liz Kallak, before she left the vigil. "My
heart really went out to him and his family even though I didn't know
him personally."

Holding a red rose and a candle, she said Worden's death affected
everyone in Hay River.

"I've had violence in my life and I know what that is like," she said,
wiping away tears.

"There's been a lot of emotion in this in the last two years. Our
community was completely thrust into the national spotlight for all
the wrong reasons," Wallington said in an interview after the brief
ceremony.

"We lost a close friend. There were a lot of people who were really
close to Chris. He really invested himself in this community."

Wallington said Worden's death raised issues around drugs in Hay River
and has led to improved youth programs.

"People's perception of the need to invest in our community and
acknowledge there are issues we have and there are things we need to
deal with (has changed). We can't bury our heads in the sand," he said.

Worden was 30 when he was shot four times outside an apartment
building in Hay River in the early morning hours of Oct. 6, 2007.
Worden was in pursuit of a suspect when the shooting occurred.

His widow, Jodie, and their daughter Alexis no longer live in the
town.

Emrah Bulatci of Alberta is facing a charge of first degree murder.
Jury selection for his trial is underway in Yellowknife. Hay River
remembers Worden

Two years after murder, town gathers for vigil to honour slain RCMP
officer

HAY RIVER - Residents in Hay River came together to remember RCMP
Const. Christopher Worden last Tuesday night, two years after he was
shot and killed while on duty.

More than 50 people gathered as the first sub-zero wind of the season
whipped through Hay River.

Meeting at city hall, people handed out candles and spoke in hushed
tones.

The vigil proceeded to the RCMP station, where event organizer Kevin
Wallington said a prayer and encouraged people to share memories of
Worden.

"I wish I'd gotten to know him better," he said.

"It still hurts," said Liz Kallak, before she left the vigil. "My
heart really went out to him and his family even though I didn't know
him personally."

Holding a red rose and a candle, she said Worden's death affected
everyone in Hay River.

"I've had violence in my life and I know what that is like," she said,
wiping away tears.

"There's been a lot of emotion in this in the last two years. Our
community was completely thrust into the national spotlight for all
the wrong reasons," Wallington said in an interview after the brief
ceremony.

"We lost a close friend. There were a lot of people who were really
close to Chris. He really invested himself in this community."

Wallington said Worden's death raised issues around drugs in Hay River
and has led to improved youth programs.

"People's perception of the need to invest in our community and
acknowledge there are issues we have and there are things we need to
deal with (has changed). We can't bury our heads in the sand," he said.

Worden was 30 when he was shot four times outside an apartment
building in Hay River in the early morning hours of Oct. 6, 2007.
Worden was in pursuit of a suspect when the shooting occurred.

His widow, Jodie, and their daughter Alexis no longer live in the
town.

Emrah Bulatci of Alberta is facing a charge of first degree murder.
Jury selection for his trial is underway in Yellowknife.