The grief in Moncton was shared today by people across the country, many of them watching the service on television or online.
It was especially difficult for many first responders. At Barrie Fire Dispatch today, four big monitors showed funeral service.
“We asked for special permission today to be able to engage in the whole ceremony just out of respect,” says Wendy Camber. She wishes she could have been there today to pay her respects.
“It's important for us to be able to share the grief with the rest of those that are emergency personnel for people to understand that it's such a senseless tragedy. They will put their lives on the line every day and this is what happens, so it's really important that we pay tribute.”
As a country, people paid tribute – and mourned – together.
For police officers, it was another difficult day. The flags outside the Barrie Police Service headquarters remain at half-staff tonight.
“We have locations set up at both Bell Farm Road and here at Sperling with TVs live streaming the event,” says Const. Angela Butler.
Barrie, South Simcoe, OPP, and York Regional police sent about 100 officers to Moncton. Butler says everyone on the force is trying to balance work and their emotions.
“It's a hard day for everybody and if we can't be there in person at least we can stand there, we can watch, we can, internally, within ourselves, pay tribute that way,” she says.
Even students getting ready for next week’s exams found themselves working close to a television today.
Taylor Koson says he found himself paying more attention to the service than his books and says there was one moment in particular that caught his attention.
“When the dog handler was being brought in the dog was barking in the background,” he says. “That was very upsetting, I found, so the dog knew what was going on.”
A memorial fund has been set up for the families of the three RCMP officers killed in Moncton.
