The vigil occurred at the urban reserve in La Ronge. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Community Support

La Ronge vigil occurs before Thursday court date

Aug 13, 2020 | 12:59 PM

Dozens of tri-community residents attended a candlelight vigil Wednesday in honour of Tristen Durocher and remember those lost to suicide.

Several people took the opportunity to address the crowd including Durocher’s aunt Jackie Durocher. She thanked Men of the North Founder Christopher Merasty for walking with her nephew to Regina, as well as asked everyone to pray as Durocher has a court hearing scheduled today at 2 p.m.

Through his Facebook page Walking With Our Angels, Durocher has already announced he would not be attending a hearing and a lawyer would be there in his place.

“It’s going to be a tough day because he has to go to court tomorrow,” Jackie Durocher said yesterday at the vigil. “We have a lot of people there supporting him and praying for him, but I ask for prayers for my family.”

Jackie Durocher also spoke about the press conference held Tuesday, which was hosted by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations and attended by First Nations chiefs. She hopes it wasn’t just for a photo opportunity as those leaders will need return to their communities and help their members.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

“I saw yesterday (Tuesday) he is making a difference and he is pulling people together and that’s what we need,” Jackie Durocher said.

Jackie Durocher addresses those in attendance. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

His aunt also explained how concerned she was to have Tristen Durocher partake in the 635-kilometre walk, as well as stay outside the Legislative Building. She said she knew northerners would look after him, but didn’t know what would happen when he reached more southern communities.

“In the North, we were good because we knew people were going to look after him because that’s what we do,” Jackie Durocher said. “It was scary going to the South because we live in the North and know what to expect. Going to the South was really scary for us as a family.”

Merasty also spoke about the walk and how support dropped the further they walked south. He noted motorist would make a point to yell profanities or make inappropriate gestures towards them.

“For something like that to happen and for these people not to understand what we’re fighting for, I was completely disgusted,” Merasty said. “For what me and Tristen did walking over 600 kilometres to open up those people’s eyes was something that needed to be done.”

Merasty is hopeful the provincial government will sign a suicide prevention bill before Durocher completes the fasting ceremony Sept. 13. He added when it comes to suicide, those struggling don’t have the same support when it comes to other with non-mental health conditions.

“People struggle and they kind of just brush it under the rug like it doesn’t exist,” Merasty said. “We need to start addressing those issues.”

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno