Ashley Ryan, wife of fallen EPS officer, drops puck at charity game for mental health
Wearing her husband's police jacket, Ashley Ryan walked to centre ice at a charity hockey game in Spruce Grove, Alta., Wednesday night.
She, a paramedic, then dropped the puck on the matchup that Brett was planning to referee.
Ryan and his partner Travis Jordan, both constables with Edmonton Police Service, were shot and killed last Thursday morning while responding to a family dispute.
Brett was an official last year at the Battle for the Badges, an event that raises money for mental-health programs for first responders and soldiers.
"It's been a tough week…He was a community-minded person. First person to give you the shirt off his back and he just wanted to help others," said friend and event organizer Miles Valiquette.
Although Brett was not someone who loved attention, Valiquette said he would be honoured to see the support he received at the game, which aimed to raise $10,000.
Firefighter Cole Hoeber had tears in his eyes when he spoke about the loss of Ryan and the week it's been for emergency workers.
"[This year] I think it's definitely a bit more important. It makes you think a little bit more about the job we do, the importance it is and the different sacrifices we make along our careers," he told CTV News Edmonton.
"I think [the event is] really coming together. It's going to be something special."
Ashley Ryan (right), wife of fallen EPS officer Brett Ryan, at a charity hockey game for mental health programs in Spruce Grove, Alta., on March 22, 2023. (CTV News Edmonton)
A moment of silence for Ryan and Jordan was also observed before the game between the U18AA PAC Saints and a team of local RCMP officers and firefighters.
Hundreds attended the event at the Grant Fuhr Arena, about 15 kilometres west of Edmonton.
"It's really good to see the community pulling together. Part of mental health is that social connection, so it's really good to see the number of people that have come out tonight," said RCMP Insp. Kevin McGillivray.
"Policing, just like all the other emergency services, we are quite a big family…But another big part of that is interacting with community members. So it really is great for our members to come out and see the support we have from the public."
Proceeds from the event will be donated to Legacy Place Society, which offers confidential peer support and user-friendly resources to first responders and military personnel.
A regimental funeral for the officers is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Matt Woodman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.