How one tribute to a fallen RCMP officer caught a mother's attention and ignited a friendship
CBC
Avon Brophy presses a hand to her heart and looks at a photo of a young Dutch girl, standing with a grinning RCMP officer in red serge.
Twenty-two years after that photo was taken, Brophy sits on a bench alongside Mara Wienke, the same little girl — now a young woman.
There's an empty space between them just big enough for that officer, Brophy's daughter, Const. Heidi Stevenson.
"It's just special," Brophy said. "I'm sure Heidi's here with us right now."
Stevenson was among the 22 people killed in the mass shooting in Nova Scotia on April 18-19, 2020, when a gunman travelled across the province in a mock RCMP car.
Brophy and Wienke are now building a unique friendship after the loss of Stevenson, who was killed by the shooter in Shubenacadie after wounding him in a gunfight.
Just a few days after the tragedy, Wienke shared the photo of her and Stevenson taken in 2000, and wrote a letter to Stevenson's family that was shared widely on Facebook.
Wienke was five years old when she and Stevenson met at a commemorative event to mark Apledoorn's liberation by Canadian troops in the Second World War.
She told her story to CBC News and talked about how Stevenson seemed like a hero to her. Wienke said Stevenson gave her so much time and attention, even though they didn't speak the same language.
Brophy, who lives in Cole Harbour, N.S., said among the outpouring of condolences and stories about Stevenson from around the world, Wienke's photo and story has stuck with her.
"It's just one of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen. And, you know, one of my very favourite photos ever," Brophy said alongside Wienke recently at the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum, a favourite place of Brophy's.
"I don't think anybody can look at it without being moved. You know, this shy, beautiful little girl and Heidi on her knee, you know, at eye level, talking to her … it was very special."
After seeing the photo, Brophy said she decided Wienke should be at Stevenson's regimental memorial service, whenever it happened. Brophy looked Wienke up online, and the two connected.
At the time, Wienke said she was just happy her fond memories of Stevenson had reached the officer's family, and didn't expect anything else.