A new memorial to recognize the sacrifice of four Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers was recently rededicated at Bower Place shopping centre in Red Deer, Alta. Photos courtesy Bower Place
A new memorial to recognize the sacrifice of four Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers was recently rededicated at Bower Place shopping centre in Red Deer, Alta.
The event took place last month, with RCMP representatives, family and community members, and emergency services in attendance.
The original memorial was erected after what was known as the Mayerthorpe tragedy. On March 3, 2005, constables Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon, Lionide (Leo) Johnston, and Brock Myrol were shot and killed while executing a search warrant at a farm in Mayerthorpe, Alta.
In 2005, the mall unveiled a life-sized statue of an RCMP officer and his horse, as a tribute to the fallen constables.
Later that year, Bower Place unveiled a life-sized statue of an RCMP officer and his horse, as a tribute to the fallen constables. It stood at the south entrance of the mall for more than 16 years, and was relocated in 2022, while the new memorial was being designed and fabricated.
Representing the dedication, professionalism, and service of the RCMP, the new statue also has a personal connection. Not only was it designed to look like Myrol—who served as a security guard at Bower Place for nine years—but it also focuses on the sacrifices the group made on that fateful day.
“Bower Place recognizes the lasting impact of these brave RCMP officers on our community, honouring their memory through the rededication of our new memorial,” says Ben Windsor, marketing manager at Bower Place. “Their sacrifices echo within our walls, and their unwavering commitment to duty and protection is integral to the fabric of our community.”
