'Something he would have wanted': Sask. community creates memorial project for mass stabbing victim
The village of Weldon has been a little bit darker since the community lost Wes Petterson.
“He was a huge part of the community,” said Weldon resident Chelsey Erickson.
Petterson, 78, was one of 11 victims during Myles Sanderson’s deadly attacks on Sept. 4, 2022 in James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) and Weldon.
Wes Petterson was the last victim of Myles Sanderson during a stabbing spree in rural Saskatchewan in Sept. 2022. (Stacey Hein / CTV News)
“It’s still hard knowing that he’s gone, and how he went. He definitely didn’t deserve it,” Erickson said.
She knew Petterson her whole life, and remembers him as a kind and selfless man.
Erickson is co-director of the “Weldon Playground Project” committee, which plans to build a park in Petterson’s honour.
“He liked to see the kids outside playing, and we know this is something he would have wanted,” she said.
Weldon resident Jeanette Dubois hopes the Wes Petterson Memorial Park will bring new life to the community.
“We need more people to get together and do stuff because that has stopped. The community doesn’t get together anymore like they used to,” she said.
The committee plans to build the park on the field next to the community’s care home, where children currently play.
“We have fun games, but we’re constantly playing them over and over again. I think if we had a playground maybe we’d have more fun, and have different options to explore,” Katie Petire said.
“I’m excited for the park, because then I don’t need to go to Kinistino for a park,” Evander Fearn said.
A rendering of the Wes Petterson Memorial Park plan. (Image Supplied)
The committee needs about $150,000 for the project, but it’s already two-thirds of the way there after a donation from James Smith Cree Nation.
“It’s part of reconciliation … on both parties,” said Gerald Whitehead, a member of JSCN.
“Because both communities felt the tragedy of loss.”
James Smith donated $116,000 to the cause.
“The support we’ve had from everybody, just doing this, has been over the moon and amazing,” said Jamie Petire, committee co-director.
The committee will continue to fundraise through pancake breakfasts and bottle drives, with a goal of holding a grand opening for the park in September.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.