RCMP colleagues, relatives and federal politicians packed into Ottawa's oldest church Monday for the regimental funeral of a Mountie recently killed in the Northwest Territories.

Widow Jodie Worden, right, holds her daughter as she watches the casket of her husband, RCMP Const. Christopher Worden, enter Notre-Dame Cathedral for the funeral in Ottawa on Monday.
(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

Const. Christopher Worden, 30, died on Oct. 6 after responding to a call for assistance in the small town of Hay River, about 400 kilometres south of Yellowknife.

To a full house at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Const. Mike Carter, Worden's friend and colleague, gave a eulogy on behalf of the RCMP during which he described Worden's passion for his work, life and family. Worden leaves behind his wife, Jodie, and eight-month-old daughter, Alexis.

"Jodie told the world that Chris would often say, 'There's nothing I'd rather do' " than be a Mountie, said Carter, who served with Worden in the North.

Carter, who struggled several times to maintain his composure, described Worden as a hero for his "selfless acts in Hay River" as Jodie listened, holding her daughter.

Carter also recalled the day Worden brought to work an ultrasound picture of his baby, giving his colleagues an impromptu anatomy lesson to show it would be a girl, and told of how he enjoyed playing with his daughter and gardening in his yard.

"He would not want us to remember how he passed, but how he lived," Carter said.

"Your heart, friendship and sense of humour are irreplaceable," he said. "You'll never be forgotten and will forever be part of our lives."

The funeral was held four days after Emrah Bulatci, 23, was arrested in Edmonton and charged with first-degree murder. On Saturday, the RCMP also charged Jarred Dale Nagle, 21, of Edmonton as an accessory after the fact to murder.

Nagle had been in the west Edmonton house where Bulatci peacefully surrendered Friday following an hours-long standoff with police.

A woman in the house at the time was also taken into custody, but later released without charges.

Politicians attend service

The funeral Monday included a eulogy from Worden's younger sister, Cathy Worden, and Bible readings.

Before the ceremony began, Worden's coffin was followed by a procession of 2,500 RCMP officers in full traditional red serge uniforms as it made its way to the cathedral from nearby Parliament Hill.

Const. Christopher Worden leaves behind his wife and an eight-month-old daughter.
(CBC)

In attendance were several politicians and other officials, including Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and RCMP Commissioner William Elliott, and two of Elliott's predecessors, Guiliano Zaccardelli and Phil Murray.

The turnout was as officials had forecast. A large screen was set up across the street from the 300-seat church, where several hundred people who couldn't get inside could watch a live broadcast of the service.

A private ceremony was to be held later Monday at a cemetery.

Hay River pays tribute

Officers from Worden's own detachment were given time off to attend the funeral.

"We're certainly pulling together as an RCMP family and providing supports where needed," Yellowknife RCMP Const. Roxanne Dreilich said, adding that the police force sent relief members to Hay River to take over duties there.

Residents in Hay River, a town of about 3,650, were also paying tribute to Worden on Monday by putting thousands of blue-and-black ribbons on display throughout the town.

Last week, hundreds of people gathered in the town's recreation centre to assemble the ribbons in hopes people across the Northwest Territories would wear them on the day of Worden's funeral.

Mayor John Pollard said Worden's death has been traumatic for Hay River's residents. A public meeting and vigil have been scheduled for Oct. 22, where people can air their concerns and questions about his death.

"There are some people who are just asking, 'What happened? Why did it happen?' There are other people who think they know what happened and they've got solutions," Pollard said.

"People have said to me, 'This officer's life was taken and it can't be in vain … something has to be done about these circumstances.' So I think the best thing to do is to bring everybody together that wants to talk and listen to them and try and address those concerns."

At the Hay River vigil, scheduled to begin after the public meeting, residents will carry 500 candles and 500 roses from the recreation centre to the police detachment, where they will observe a moment of silence.

 

With files from the Canadian Press