Late in the fall of 2008, I was asked by the Nova Scotia Department of
Justice to consider writing a submission for the 2009 National Victims of
Crime Resource Guide. If approved and accepted by the National committee,
this testimonial would assist the many agencies, support groups, service
organizations and most importantly, other victims of violent crime with a
connection to the emotional and personal experience of a victim’s insight.
As each of you know, Lana and I strive daily to find meaningful purpose to
Paula’s death. We have worked to not only create and sustain awareness about
Paula’s horrific murder and her unsolved case, but we have also tried to
raise awareness about violence against women. We were instrumental in
driving the launch of the provincial Rewards Program in the fall of 2006 and
the increased funding announcement in the fall of 2008. Paula’s case and our
relentless “ankle biting” questions to senior justice members, politicians
and policing officials has positively influenced the forensics procedures
regarding processing times and queuing. I have also worked very quietly and
yes, believe it or not, patiently over the last couple of years trying to
drive change within our provincial victim services programs and although the
changes will be transparent to the general public, I feel they are listening
to my recommendations and victims of homicide will one day benefit from
improved programs, services and funding….Paula’s death will serve many
worthwhile purposes for the betterment of so many in society.
Writing this testimonial provided me with another great opportunity to
provide a deeper understanding and awareness of the impact of violence on
the victims. On December 29th, 2008 I woke early that day and wrote my story
which I submitted on that same day. The words flowed effortlessly in
supporting this year’s theme of Supporting, Connecting and Evolving and for
a woman of “many” words meeting the maximum word count was not a challenge.
This past spring I received a call advising me the committee had approved my
submission. Please find attached in the official communication the link to
the guide and my testimonial which is titled "How one victim of murder chose
to be a survivor”.
http://www.victimsweek.gc.ca/res/r73.html.You
will also find the testimonial below.
Please feel free to share this with other victims, support agencies and
anyone that may be involved in providing support to victims of crime.
Together, as one voice, we will be heard…for Paula and for all other victims
of crime. I could not be where I am today without the love, support and
encouragement of each of you. Thank you for all you give. Perhaps next year
we can organize a local event here in Nova Scotia during National Victims
Crime Awareness Week in memory of Paula’s 5th year anniversary…..it is never
to early to start planning.
In Peace and Hope,
Lynn
December 25th, 2005…… Christmas, like
every Christmas since we were born, was spent together under one roof from the
24th to the 26th. As we raised our glasses during our Christmas meal to give
thanks for all that we had, we could never have imagined that the acts of
another human being two days later could bring such pain and devastation to this
loving and happy family.
On December 27th, 2005, just one week before her daughter
Anna’s first birthday, my 36- year- old sister, Paula Anne Gallant, was
violently murdered. Her lifeless body was put in the trunk of her car which was
then driven to her elementary school just minutes from her home. Her car, with
her dead body in the trunk, was later discovered by family. Life as we knew it
was redefined in the most horrific and unimaginable manner possible. Someone
living amongst us made a choice to end Paula’s life. To end her career as a
teacher and artist. To end her role as a mother, friend, sister, aunt, and so
much more.
Shock, disbelief, numbness, isolation, indescribable pain,
confusion, fear, an inability to function….. You keep hoping you are going to
wake up and it will be the same as it was before the nightmare. Then, you look
into your children's eyes, into the eyes of those who have filled your home and
you know it is real. Sobs fill the silence. You pray that darkness will not
fall. You don’t want your friends to ever leave your kitchen because then you
know you will be left alone to feel. It is like your body is consumed with
concrete and you cannot move. You barely breathe. You know it is worse than you
ever thought possible.
Chaos exists, but not like the hectic chaos we all live
daily. It is a solemn, subdued, eerie chaos. We all sit waiting. Not knowing
what to do or when to do it. The phone rings constantly and we just hope someone
on the other end will help us.
Over three years have passed since that horrible, senseless
day Paula’s voice was silenced through murder. As if the loss is not painful
enough, we also continue to live without closure or justice for this violent
crime. This is as agonizing as the crime itself. Knowing the person responsible
is living freely among us. You are consumed with one thought: how are we going
to survive this nightmare?
In the first couple of weeks, the numbness and pain is
crippling but hope is prevalent. Hope that justice will come quickly so our
efforts can be focused on healing. But as time passes, you are presented with
the harsh realities of the situation. Once you are able to absorb this reality,
the challenge becomes “getting on with life” and redefining “normal” without
Paula, with an altered family structure and with the acceptance the killer lives
freely in our society. It is the hardest thing I have ever been faced with in my
life and there is no handbook or blueprint to guide and provide the required
support. You are exposed to the learnings of a life experience one should never
have to endure and you look to everyone for answers, for closure, for justice,
for peace.
The first half of the second year was a continuation of the
first year. The pain was as raw, the frustration as exhausting, the need for
answers as consuming. But just as the murderer had the free will to make the
choice to silence Paula, I too realized at some point in year two that I had the
free will to choose to either be a victim or be a survivor. In choosing to
survive, I could not only be Paula’s voice, but the voice for all women who have
lost their lives to violence or continue to be victims of violence.
I also realized I had the opportunity, through my
experience, to become an advocate for all victims of murder in the hopes of
improving the levels of support and types of services provided. It was a turning
point for me in this journey and although I knew it would be a daunting
undertaking, I felt it would give meaning to Paula’s death.
Trying to drive change is not easy. I hit one roadblock
after another and felt even more isolated as I came to realize my voice as a
victim of murder was weak. It would be so easy to just walk away. But through
the love, support and encouragement of my family, friends, our communities, the
media and so many others, I knew this would become my lifelong purpose.
In 2008, when I was preparing information for an event
called “Men Standing Up Against Violence Against Women” during Family Violence
Prevention Week, I came across the following quote which is now my guiding
principle:
“I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that
I can do.”
Edward Everett Hale
I “cannot refuse to do the something I can do”. I
have experience as my foundation, Paula as my strength, society as my support,
and my free will to choose to survive and make a positive contribution. I guess
one could say I have evolved through this nightmare and now have the clarity,
confidence and steadfast determination to be a strong voice for Paula, for all
who have lost their lives to violence and to the victims of murder who represent
the minority.
I cannot change what happened to Paula, nor can I bring her
back. I cannot make the last three years any easier or wave a magic wand and get
the justice Paula deserves, but I can try and drive change. Change that gives
victims the required support to get through the maze with expert guidance,
empathy, dignity, respect and, most importantly, the ability to one day heal.
Change that makes society more aware and less tolerant of violence. It should
not be an acceptable norm.
And so as I drove from Paula’s grave on Christmas Day 2008,
filled with sorrow, I realized how far I had come and I knew I would survive and
be the voice society would some day embrace.
Lynn Gallant-Blackburn
In Memory of my sister, Paula Anne Gallant