Canada has experienced the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.
On Sunday April 19th, 2020, a mass shooting took place in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia where, according to Reuters, a gunman killed nineteen people including himself. Among the people killed was Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) constable Heidi Stevenson, a 48-year-old veteran of the force, while in the line of duty.
CrossFit NCR, a gym in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, created a hero workout of the day (WOD) in honor of Stevenson that was shared the day she was identified as one of the victims. A hero WOD is tribute to a fallen military member or first responder who died in the line of duty. Hero WOD “Heidi” consisted of the following:
As many rounds as possible (AMRAP) in 23 minutes:
- 23 air squats.
- 23 push-ups.
- 23 kettlebell swings.
- 23 jumping lunges.
- 23 sit-ups.
- 23 box jumps.
It was performed on April 21st.
“Tomorrow, we WOD for Heidi.”
On April 20th, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the mass shooting as “senseless violence” and drew attention to the loss of constable Stevenson. You can watch Trudeau’s response via Global News‘ YouTube channel below:
“A gunman claimed the lives of at least eighteen people. Among them, a woman in uniform, whose job it is to protect lives even if it endangers her own: constable Heidi Stevenson of the RCMP. Constable Stevenson died protecting others. She was answering the call of duty — something she had done everyday when she went to work for 23 years. To the grandparent who lost a child, to the children who lost a parent, to the neighbor who lost a friend, we are so sorry for your loss. Such a tragedy should have never occurred. Violence of any kind has no place in Canada. We stand with you and we grieve with you.”
A procession of over 150 police and community members took place on Monday, April 20th as Stevenson’s body left the province’s chief medical examiner’s office. Stevenson is survived by her husband, her daughter (10), and her son (13).
Featured image from CrossFit NCR’s Instagram page: @crossfitncr
