As Const. David Wynn’s casket was carried from the room where thousands had gathered on Monday to mourn his death and celebrate his life, Grade 6 students from Keenooshayo Elementary School raised their voices in song.
“We can make a difference in our world today … we know what’s right and we know what to do,” sang students Wynn had taught as part of the DARE program.
As family and RCMP representatives stood to tell the crowd – a sea of red serge and other uniforms, plus family, friends and other guests – about Wynn, a pattern emerged in the description of the Mountie’s character. Like the song his DARE students sang, Wynn knew what was right, and did something about it.
The difference in the world he wanted to make is evident in his chosen professions. Wynn served first as a paramedic in Nova Scotia, and then as an RCMP officer stationed in St. Albert, a posting cut tragically short in a sudden act of violence.
Those who spoke at his funeral on Monday made it clear: Wynn was a man of passion, enthusiasm, laughter and love.
He loved fly-fishing, Red Rose tea and, most of all, his family, especially his wife Shelly MacInnis-Wynn and their three sons.
The celebration of his life on Monday – a regimental RCMP funeral that filled the arenas at Servus Place and satellite broadcast locations around town – was a family affair, from Wynn’s wife’s RCMP officer uncle, Sgt. Duncan MacInnis, emceeing the ceremonies to his sister delivering his eulogy.
More than 2,000 officers from across the continent represented law enforcement agencies, emergency service departments and other peace officers.
“It was easy to be proud of Dave,” said Tiffiny Manetta, a cousin to MacInnis-Wynn who got to know her cousin-in-law well when they stayed at Manetta’s parents’ home in Sherwood Park, where they shared Chinese food, Raiders games and many cups of tea.
She got the crowd at Servus Place chuckling, something many speakers did with their stories of a life lived with joy and love at its heart.
Wynn’s niece Allison Sephton offered a scripture reading, chosen by Wynn’s mother Kay. The reading was 1 Corinthians 13 – a passage known as the love passage, noted St. Albert RCMP detachment chaplain Cyril Gowler. “Love is patient, love is kind ...”
“It so very well describes Dave Wynn,” Gowler said.
Insp. Kevin Murray – commanding officer of the St. Albert RCMP detachment, noted a man who was “bright, committed, tenacious” and always looking to improve, who would continue to bring a smile to his colleagues’ faces.
“Nothing can ever change that,” Murray said.
“He was the consummate community police officer who loved being part of this community,” Murray said.
He too shared a story of Wynn’s singular devotion to Red Rose tea – drawing laughs when he shared a story about Wynn negotiating with striking grocery store workers to gain access to that particular brand.
Alberta’s RCMP deputy commissioner Marianne Ryan said when she arrived at the hospital in the hours after Wynn was shot and began to talk to Wynn’s sons, they told her of a shared passion for fly-fishing.
“There is no doubt that Dave’s version of heaven includes a gentle flowing stream where the fish are always biting,” Ryan said. “We wish you God speed and tight lines.”
Wynn’s sister Mona delivered the eulogy, telling the crowd after writing and rewriting her speech, she wanted to tell those who are mourning the fallen officer what Wynn would want them to do now.
“David would want us to forgive, he was a peaceful man,” Mona said. “David would want us to find joy … David would want us to follow our hearts.”
Wynn became a paramedic after a life-threatening car accident, and later decided to pursue a career with the RCMP.
“Even now that he has left us, he continues to serve,” Mona said, telling the crowd that 30 to 35 people would benefit from his tissue donation.
“Dave was the best dad ever,” Mona said. He was dedicated to spending as much time with his children as possible.
He was an ordinary man with an extraordinary capacity to make the world a better place, she said.
It was a ceremony filled with music. The Rankin Family performed, a nod to the family’s Maritime roots, and country singer Paul Brandt was there to represent how Wynn had embraced his time in Alberta, playing Amazing Grace for the crowd.
Friends of Wynn, paramedics from Nova Scotia, Kevin Davison and Andrew Frelick, came to play at Shelly’s request.
The Keenooshayo students sang to honour the officer who’d been their DARE instructor, and the ceremonial Last Post, Lament and Reveille rang out in the arena.
But perhaps the most emotional music were the songs that played as a photomontage showed Wynn’s life on screen. As images of Wynn with his family, his friends and his infamous pranks rolled by, My Valentine, the wedding song of Wynn and Shelly, played.
So did Blackbird. Wynn had been teaching his son Matthew how to play the tune on the guitar. So Matthew played it – over and over – for his father as he lay in the hospital, fatally wounded.
Dignitaries were part of the crowds at Servus Place. Both the prime minister and the premier were there.
But the only elected official to speak was St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse, who told the family that their father, son and husband had died protecting us all.
“His hands were hands of hope,” Crouse said.
As the ceremony concluded, the Canadian flag, which draped Wynn’s casket, was folded and delivered to Shelly. His hat, belt and flowers that adorned his casket were, in turn, given to each of his three sons.
As RCMP officers lifted the casket, MacInnis told the crowd that Wynn will continue to make the world a better place through his sons and all the lives he touched.
Hundreds of Mounties looked on as the casket was carried out, and the students began to sing We Can Make a Difference.
“We know what’s right and we know what to do. The future can be brighter. It’s up to me and you.”
