A candlelight walk Sunday and motorcade today are among the many ways people can pay tribute to West Shore RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett, who died in crash on Tuesday.
A Facebook page called “Candle light walk to remember Sarah Beckett” says the memorial walk will begin at 8:30 p.m. Sunday and go from Peatt Road to Veterans Memorial park off Aldwynd Road.
The candlelight walk from the crash scene to the park is being offered as a way for the community to pay respects, say thank you and wish goodbye “to a devoted officer, wife, mother and friend to many,” the page says. “We are a strong city and one [that] will remember those devoted to helping all of us.”
Beckett’s body is being flown to the mainland today for medical tests.
As a show of respect, West Shore RCMP, accompanied by other police departments from the south Island, plan to escort Beckett’s body from Victoria General Hospital at noon to Victoria International Airport where a flight is scheduled to depart at 1 p.m.
The RCMP says anyone who wants to position themselves along the route to pay their respects is welcome to do so.
The motorcade will leave the View Royal hospital at noon, head out Watkiss Way, along Helmcken Road, Wilkinson Road, Royal Oak Drive and Pat Bay Highway. The motorcade will then take the McTavish Road exit onto Canora Road and end at the Shell AeroCentre near the main airport control tower.
Beckett, 32, was killed early Tuesday morning when a pickup truck struck her police cruiser at Goldstream Avenue and Peatt Road.
Her death has sparked an outpouring of reaction.
The crash occurred about 3:30 a.m. Beckett, the mother of two young boys, was pronounced dead just after 4 a.m.
The RCMP has created a web page at bc.rcmp.ca for those wishing to leave a message of condolence for her family, and a condolence book is available inside the West Shore detachment.
The RCMP is discussing arrangements for a memorial or service with Beckett’s family, but nothing yet has been confirmed.
