For Grace Johnston, mother of a fallen RCMP officer, it takes a lot more than three years to ease the pain of loss.
Luckily for her, she says, it also takes a lot longer to erase the strong sense of community.
"It is awesome, just (the community) has the spirit and the willingness and are taking the time to make sure that the boys are remembered in a positive way," she said.
Johnston, who lost Const. Leo Johnston three years ago when James Roszko opened fire on a group of officers, sits in marvel as a group of men play a hockey game to raise money for a permanent memorial for the Fallen Four.
James Roszko, a violent cop-hater with a criminal record, shot four officers to death on March 3, 2005. The tragedy was the national police force's worst single-day loss of life in more than a century.
Roszko ended up taking his own life after trading gunfire with other police officers.
The attack occurred as the officers -- Consts. Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon, Brock Myrol and Leo Johnston -- guarded a Quonset hut on Roszko's property.
The previous day, Bailiffs had gone to the farm near Mayerthorpe, Alta., located in quiet farming country northwest of Edmonton, to seize property. They saw some marijuana plants and stolen auto parts and called the RCMP.
Roszko had been seen fleeing in his truck. That vehicle was later found 24 kilometres away. Questions still plague the town on how Rosko made it back to the farm unnoticed.
Suzie Neufeld, who was born and raised in the small Alberta town, said the massacre is still on many of the residents' minds.
"It took away a lot of the innocence I think of this community," she said. "You don't trust everybody as easily as you used to."
Neufeld lived near Roszko and like many in the town, she kept her distance. She said she never thought it would end with him killing four Mounties and turning the gun on himself.
"I was just surprised that things were still escalating," she said.
Supt. Marlin Degrand, the officer in charge in RCMP Alberta's West District, said even within the RCMP organiation, an event like this one is never expected.
"This particular event was almost unprecedented in the history of our organization," he said. "It shocked many of us right to the core."
Many residents in the community say they are still finding it hard to heal as the legal processes drag on.
A fatality inquiry has been placed on hold until the court cases for two men accused of helping Roszko are finished.
Dennis Cheeseman, 23, and Shawn Hennessey, 28, return to court in May. Both men have been charged as parties to the offences committed by James Roszko on March 3, 2005.
Degrand said the town must wait for the investigations to conclude.
"Clearly everybody would like to see these things wrapped as quickly as possible but at the end of the day it's all about the thoroughness of the investigation and justice," he said.
Doreen Jewell-Duffy, mother of slain RCMP member Const. Anthony Gordon, said the healing has been stalled while the town waits for answers.
"It is very, very frustrating but you have to wait, be patient," she said.
With files from Bill Fortier
Watch CTV Edmonton tonight at 6 p.m. to hear more on the community as it copes with tragedy.
