'Grief, pain, shock' in Hopedale following unrelated tragedies, says angajukKâk
The community of Hopedale on Labrador's north coast is reeling following two tragic but unrelated incidents in the past week left three people dead.
On Saturday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested and charged 27-year-old Michael Tuglavina with first-degree murder and attempted murder. The arrest followed a complaint of an assault the previous night where officers found one man dead and another seriously injured.
That same night, two men from Hopedale were last seen travelling on a snowmobile headed toward a cabin outside the community.
The next night, police received a report the men were overdue from the fishing trip. Hopedale Ground Search and Rescue personnel mobilized and eventually found both men drowned in the water just outside the community.
"There's a lot of grief, pain, shock and sadness in our community right now," Hopedale AngajukKâk Marjorie Flowers told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning.
"Any death in the community, it's always sad because we're small. Still a small community. And when one hurts, we all hurt. But this is just, like, a double whammy."
LISTEN | CBC's Regan Burden speaks with Marjorie Flowers on recent tragedies:
While the community is reeling from the tragedies, she says they've also brought people together as they console one another.
Flowers says the town recently hosted drop-in support sessions for different age groups, residents have begun raising money for families, and the Nunatsiavut government has made more resources available to people who are struggling.
"I'm just so proud of my people here, and how everyone's just trying to help," Flowers said.
"As long as they feel supported, and to know that they're not alone, I think that's what will work for people."
Police are still investigating both incidents, along with the office of the chief medical examiner.
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