More than 50 of the late Gerald Supernault’s family and friends gathered on Saturday, Aug. 25 to take part in a Memorial Awareness Walk to raise awareness regarding a decade-long homicide case that has gone unsolved.
Silver Quilt, Gerald’s niece, organized the event, saying it was an opportunity for friends and family to gather in remembrance, while also bringing attention to the fact that the case remains a mystery.
“For the majority of us, it is a memorial, but also a celebration of life,” said Quilt. “We want to do it in Gerald’s honour to reinforce the fact that we still think about him on a daily basis. We’re hoping that it will also help all of us get some answers and some closure.”
The walk began in Boitanio Park, with prayers and messages from close family members. Drumming, singing and praying through the core of Williams Lake followed, with the group then heading to the Sugar Cane Reserve to continue their memorial, all in the goal of bringing awareness to the city of Williams Lake, the RCMP and Sugar Cane Reserve that the case remains unsolved.
READ MORE: Memorial Awareness Walk planned to bring attention to unsolved homicide
Ultimately, Quilt and all in attendance wanted the event to remain positive to commemorate a man that “meant so much to his family.”
“It’s important that we build awareness for it,” said Quilt. “The first four years after Gerald’s death, my grandmother held a one-day Pow wow in memory of him. We haven’t done anything, in terms of public events, since 2012.
Supernault was 37 at the time of his disappearance and was last seen leaving the Toosey Reserve wearing black pants, black shorts and hiking boots around Aug. 7 or 8, 2008.
On Oct. 5, 2008, Supernault’s body was found on the Sugarcane Reserve, 12 kilometres south of Williams Lake. Ground and aerial searches were initiated for Supernault after he was reported missing Aug. 22
Autopsy results revealed that Supernault had been the victim of foul play, and the missing persons case was upgraded to a homicide investigation.
“It was important for me to organize something, because I just recently moved back to the community last year. I realized that this year marks 10 years, so I think it would be great to get the family and friends of Gerald together in a positive way. We don’t intend for it to be negative at all, we just want to remember him and continue to spread awareness the way we can.”
Family and friends from across the province — with some coming from Merritt and Chilliwack — attended the memorial awareness walk, with local members of the RCMP being on hand as well.
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