By Kerri-Lynn Gibbs, Red Deer Representative
Many from the medical community and city residents filled the Red Deer City Hall Park to join the Vigil to honour the memory of Dr. Walter Reynolds who was brutally murdered by a patient at the Village Mall Walk-In Clinic on August 10th.
The vigil held on Friday August 14th initially invited 150 special guests, but approximately 2000 members of the public were estimated to be in present. People donned blue and green ribbons – the colours of the Red Deer Primary Care Network and so many citizens filled the park that when it started there were calls to turn up the sound system so people at the back of the park could hear.
An acknowledgement by the family of the outpouring of community support, and a request that the privacy of the Reynolds family be respected was released to the media ahead of the vigil. Accordingly, the media were requested not to take photos of them during the event.
The shaken Sudanese Community also reached out to the family and released a statement to local media prior to the vigil both condemning the attack and offering their condolences after the alleged perpetrator was identified as a Sudanese immigrant.
Our correspondent arrived early and noted that leading up to the vigil the mood was sober and serious as they set up the stage for the vigil. Many helping with the setup had few words to say as they channel their grief into the public memorial for Dr. Reynolds and left the words to politicians and spokespeople.
Dr. Peter Bouch told the media earlier that “Dr. Reynolds did a lot of deliveries”. He was an intricate part of so many families in the region.
Locals deeply held appreciation for the influx of South African diaspora in the medical community in the Central Alberta region that she had heard first hand over the past few decades was felt throughout the evening.
Dr. Bouch, himself a South African, said: “I heard that he had a lot of immigrant patients, but a lot of us do. As immigrants ourselves we know what it is like to be new to Canada.”
She further reported from the scene:
“On a personal note as I see my own doctor lined up to speak, I am touched at the fragility of life and the appreciation I feel that I have had a family doctor throughout the years.
“Looking around the park it is full of members of the public. I’m feeling emotional as I scan the park for faces of people that I know squinting over their masks with furloughed brows.
“Some are seated and others stand waiting for the vigil to start, but they have already brought their hearts together tonight for Dr. Reynolds.”
Dr. Jim McIntyre, who acted as the vigil MC, said, “Walter was dearly loved by all his patients.”
He expressed condolences expressed to the family, staff and patients of Walter, as well as read the statements offered by local MLA Adriana LaGrange, and Dr. Deana Hinshaw.
Dr. Willem Grabe who worked with Dr. Reynolds at the Village Mall Medical Clinic, spoke fondly, and tenderly of his partner in medical practice both as a doctor and as a man, saying:
“From the delivery room to the hospice he dedicated himself 100%!”
Dr. Grabe punctuated his tribute with marked faith saying:
“How do we process this loss? We can’t, but with the Grace of God and the Love of Jesus and the Peace of the Holy Spirit, we will take one step at a time, one day at a time.”
Janine Mostert, the late doctor’s sister-law expressed thanks to the anonymous 17 year old girl from Red Deer whose friend was a patient of Dr. Reynolds and who spearheaded the idea of the vigil, further saying:
“Red Deer you have engulfed our family with your love…We thank you for every gesture no matter how big or how small.”
Speaking to the grief of the community she said:
“The loss of Dr Reynolds leaves a profound loss for all of us but we know his impact in the community of Red Deer will live on”
Speaking on behalf of his patients Alejandra Rojas spoke of Dr. Reynolds and how he helped her when she found her immigration status in peril, his understanding when she lost her mother, and how he always knew what to do. She related how Dr. Reynolds knew what it was like to be new and always made an extra special effort to help people who were new to Canada.
Her Worship, Mayor Tara Veer, spoke gratefully of the great contribution of the South African medical community to the City of Red Deer and area. She said that the many South African doctors in the region “are widely known for treating their patients as people.” She compassionately admonished those in attendance not to forget the family in the coming days when the media attention dies down and the empty chair at the kitchen table remained.
The City of Red Deer used their Vimeo Page to livestream the vigil for friends and family in South Africa, and colleagues around the province who were unable to attend in person.
Pastor Dan Cochrane from Crossroads Church spoke to the growing diversity and community strength of the City of Red Deer and asked the big question on everyone’s mind.
“What happened on Monday is unthinkable and unimaginable and it really seemed like darkness fell on our city… so how do we go on?”
He reiterated the words of Mayor Veer: “We can resolve that the evil actions of one individual will not define our city,” and encouraged all to “Remember the legacy Dr Reynolds left,” and that emphasized that Dr. Reynolds modelled that “People mattered” particularly “in his commitment with his family, patients and God’s creation.” Pressing home the point that, “We are a better city because he was here among us.”
At the close of the vigil, in a touching moment Dr. Jim McIntyre asked the crowd to raise their candles again so Dr Reynolds’ girls could see them raised in honour of their father. Dr McIntyre asked everyone to think of Walter when they hear Brian Adams because he was Walter’s favourite singer.
Dusk only started to fall as the crowds dispersed in an orderly fashion, but the sentiments of the song “Shine a Light Everywhere You Go” and “Straight from the Heart” were not lost on those who came to honour Walter Reynold’s life.
Our Red Deer Correspondent Keri-Lynn Gibbs said:
“The other reporters here are from Edmonton and Calgary. I watch them punch out the story but this is my city. My eyes are full of tears for the sorrow but also for the beautiful show of solidarity and community spirit that defines my hometown.”
Following the vigil two medical colleagues briefly shared their feelings about how “the sanctiity of the caregiver space has been violated” but emphasized the repeated theme that “We must remember and not lose the goodness of Dr. Walter Reynolds life.”
Indeed, the light Dr. Walter Reynolds left with the City of Red Deer reflected brightly tonight through all those he impacted.
