Fredericton’s Mayor and Council, along with members of the Fredericton Police Force and first responders, gathered for a moment of silence Monday night as Guardian, a memorial to those who serve and protect the public, was commissioned and officially illuminated.
Guardian is a beacon of light illuminating a 19th Century granite Carleton Street Bridge Pier in the middle of the Wolastoq (Saint John River). Public viewing areas, including signage with granite benches, have been established on both sides of the river. The light will appear every night at sunset and recede at dawn.
“Guardian serves to remind us that Fredericton’s community is strong, connected and resilient,” said Mayor Steve Hicks. “It honours the commitment of police and all first responders to keep us safe every day and night.”
The idea for Guardian was conceived after a period of community reflection and recovery following the tragic events of August 10, 2018, when four individuals, including two police officers, lost their lives.
The City of Fredericton engaged local design consultant John Leroux who volunteered his time to lead a collective exercise with a group of Fredericton Police officers to create a memorial that would both reflect the strength of the community and honour police and first responders who selflessly serve the public.
“The memorial needed to inspire and instill pride in our police, our first responders and our community,” said Leroux. “It’s important that it is shared with everyone so that we can all be encouraged to reflect, find comfort, and remember.”
Over the past year, city engineers worked with a local metal fabricator to build and mount a weathering steel frame on top of the pier. The frame is sturdy enough to withstand river ice and spring freshets, and houses LED blue light fixtures powered through an underwater cable and connected to an astronomical clock that turns the lights on and off at sunset and sunrise.
The fixture was installed earlier this summer with help from a floating barge, and the lights and connections were tested throughout July.
Guardian is visible from the city’s trail loop on both sides of the river, including the Westmorland Street Bridge and Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.