Sunday marked a sombre anniversary for a north Edmonton community.
It was on Father's Day two years ago that a house explosion killed four people in the city's Lago Lindo neighbourhood.
Police determined a natural gas line in a home located in the area of 180A Avenue and 91A Street had been tampered with.
An investigation revealed Cathie Heard had been strangled by her common-law husband Dwayne Poirier before the house exploded.
Next-door neighbours Craig Huber and Brad Winter were also killed in the explosion.
Fourty homes were affected by the blast that caused more than $3.5 million in damage.
While many in the community moved away after the incident, others found healing by staying where they were, and helping the community rebuild.
"I'll never forget that day, never in my whole life," said Shannon Schlemko.
Schlemko and his wife were displaced for a year because of the explosion but say they have no plans of leaving, calling the area a great neighbourhood to live in.
"We've seen a lot of houses for sale and a lot of people come and go," Schlemko said.
"I'm here to stay. I will not leave."
He describes the explosion as devastating, but says the community has made some gains in rebuilding. Just one single lot remains vacant.
"I hope somebody will buy that property and they rebuild that house and hopefully decent neighbours will move in and we'll go from there," Schlemko said.
A fatality inquiry into the explosion will be held but a date has yet to be set.
